>Of course any american would feel they draw the correct line. But that is quite subjective isn't it (5% of the world population)? To me the USA should be ashamed of itself to be the only western country still practising the death penalty on a regular basis.
>
>Walter, we use the death penalty for first-degree murder. It's really that simple. Take an innocent life, and you lose claim to yours.
>
>I have never read the details of a single story in the last 20-30 years where the accused didn't deserve it. In the case of the link I posted, we have an adult male who stomped a 3-month old baby to death. If you don't think the man should be dropped in a tank with rabid sharks, then we can't possibly continue this discussion.

Over the last few years, I've seen quite a few people that were convicted but were proven not quitly just before or after execution. Your impression differs from mine.

http://www.amnestyusa.org/Death_Penalty/Fact_Sheets/page.do?id=1101088&n1=3&n2=28&n3=99

>In China, it's drugs...in Iran, it's adultery....here, it's really simple....taking a life.

Nope: http://www.amnestyusa.org/Fact_Sheets/The_Federal_Death_Penalty_is_Arbitrary_and_Overreaching/page.do?id=1101082&n1=3&n2=28&n3=99