Yesterday I got into a bit of an argument with some friends over the death penalty. We are all faithful Christians, but I am strongly in favor of the death penalty where they are not. They argued that it's not "merciful" and "you're taking away their right to life and ability to repent."
I argued back saying, "They gave up their right to life when they murdered/raped/kidnapped/etc. Did the criminal show mercy to their victim? The criminal took away the victim's right to life. Criminals on death row spend decades awaiting their sentence, there is more than enough time to repent, and if they refuse to repent on their deathbed then that's their decision. We can't 'force' them to believe when they don't want to. That's their free will choice. Justice must be served, not only in the next life but in this one as well. Justice must be served for the victims and their families. Mercy to the guilty is cruelty to the innocent."
They argued that because there have been instances where innocent people are falsely accused and put on death row, that therefore nobody should be put on death row. If we should go by that standard then we should abolish the justice and prison system entirely, because innocent people are put behind bars all the time (Jan. 6th prisoners), far more than they are put on death row. They also said putting someone to death is "too expensive." But giving them free meals and housing in prison for the rest of their lives isn't? And all on our dime?
Even the Bible has stated that it IS lawful for executions to be done against criminals: "For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer." Romans 13:4.
But I'm wondering what you all think of this? Was I right to advocate for capital punishment when it is appropriate for heinous crimes? In regards to the "elite" who have committed such acts of atrocity against humanity I believe it is well within humanity's right to enact justice on them, to the fullest extent of the law, and that includes capital punishment. Or should we be "the bigger man" and grant them mercy where they wouldn't for us?
TL;DR
Got in an argument with friends about the death penalty. I said it should definitely be allowed when appropriate for heinous crimes. They said it's not "merciful." Should it be allowed or not?
This subject returns me to my insight that we misuse the word "human." We speak of "human beings" as though that meant an anthropoid creature with rational intellect. But that is a misapplication. it really refers to a certain kind of social pattern: mutual aid, cooperation, peaceful interactions. That is a "human society." Those who are part of that kind of society are "human beings." As opposed to what? Those who are not are "predators," and they do not live in a society; they live among prey, for pillage, rape, or murder as they please.
A human society cannot tolerate predators in human guise. So, the death penalty is needed. Not merely as a deterrent by providing a warning of the potential penalty of severe predation. But essentially as a means of eliminating the continuing threat of the predator against anyone and everyone. There was the famous case of the Tsavo Lions in Kenya, where a pair of wild lions had made a practice of attacking and eating the workers on a railroad bridge project. The engineer in charge led the effort to hunt them down and kill them. They did not have time, energy, or leisure for any other outcome.
"Oh, that's lions," one might say. Think again. My wife related to me the occasion when a gang of brigands from the DR Congo crossed the border into their adjacent region in Zambia, to pillage, rape, and murder. When her father got home and learned of events, he took up his AK-47 and with others headed into the bush to hunt the gang members. They brought the bodies back. It was over. If you love your family and your community you cannot do less. We knew this was so back in the days of the "Wild West," when people had to form up posses to track down and eliminate violators of the peace. There was no keeping them.
We should not have the luxury of keeping "human" predators in a zoo (prison) to be fed and cared for. We misunderstand what we are here to do on Earth. It is not for us to puff ourselves up and assume the power to dispense mercy for outrageous violations of life and peace, as though by being "merciful" to the most intolerable crimes we virtue signal our moral perfection. It only evidences moral turpitude, gratifying pride by indulging horrid evil.
So, the death penalty is not optional. It is a necessity.