@ everybody: First and foremost. When I said "...rapping children..." I was referring to children who sing rap, not people who rape children. I am sorry for the misunderstanding, I did not intend start debate on capital punishment for child molesters.
Moving on,
I have seen "and eye for an eye" several times now in this thread. I think it was Rabbi Shmuley who I once heard say ( and I am paraphrasing) "Even in the days of old, nobody actually got there eye poked out for causing another's to be lost. It was however, pokers responsibility to provide equitable retribution for the eye lost"
There is no equitable value, on a life lost to murder. No way to repay the debt. I do not care about you if, you plot to to kill an innocent person. Your life and all your money is the best we can do. Justice is blind, there should be no stone left not thrown at a person, who committed a capital offense. Even if it does cost more kill them, than keep them alive, they should die, and as quickly as possible. That is justice.
@dee
If your mind cannot be changed, your not having a discussion, you are preaching.
What about the nearly half of the prison population consisting of inmates who are imprisoned for committing "victimless crimes?"
I don't see how the death penalty is cruel or unusual, the people who added that clause to our constitution, hanged people all the time.
"Public beheadings? Like Iran, China, etc..."
First off, "guilt by association" is a logical fallacy. Further more Susan, We don't kill people for speaking out against the government, we don't kill children just because they were born, we don't kill people who believe in Jesus. We kill murderers, Who have been indited, charged, and found guilty by a jury of his peers. But if we are going down the "guilt by association" road, then your a Neo-Marxist, like all of the E.U.