Reply #35: While on a purely visceral level [View All]

there are many crimes for which I would love to see the perpetrator killed, even in a horrific and cruel manner, I am nevertheless opposed to the death penalty.

Hate crimes, sexual assaults, crimes against children, particulary involving abuse, neglect, and murder, all make my blood boil, and make me want to see retribution. But part of civilization means overcoming our baser instincts. On a rational level, I believe that execution, and various forms of cruel and unusual punishment simply make our society as a whole, more cruel and barbaric, and in the end, help to create the very conditions that perpetuate those sorts of crimes in the first place.

So no. I cannot support the death penalty, even for crimes for which it would provide a feeling of gratification, such as violent hate crimes. I apologize if this position is offensive to some people on this board.