>I don't think it is a deterrent and I've heard the statistics that back me up on this. Personally I don't think punishment of any kind is a deterrent to anyone that commits crimes of this nature. The criminal doesn't sit back and say to themselves if I get caught, I could be executed so I won't kill today. I don't think that happens.
>
>Punishment is not a deterrent. It's the penalty. If you commit a small crime you pay a small penalty. If you commit a big crime (murder), you pay the ultimate penalty. People that commit crimes against other people should live better than their victims.
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>Some wouild say that life in prison is not a life. That's hogwash. That person is still alive and the victim is not.


Thanks for being forthright. I agree with that the kind of madness or desperation that leads one to do murder tends to block out rational calculations about the probability that some ten years later one may die by lethal injection.

In setting the penalty, you are echoing a traditional standard:

17 And he that killeth any man shall surely be put to death.
18 And he that killeth a beast shall make it good; beast for beast.
19 And if a man cause a blemish in his neighbor; as he hath done, so shall it be done to him;
20 Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him again.

Leviticus 24


There is a newer release, however:

38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

Matthew 5


Do you think that Bush and Gore truly believe in this supposed deterrent effect? Perhaps they are not being intellectually honest.

Peter