Reply to thread

I would plead his case not for him but for the impact it has on the system. As would most who are against the death penalty.

I do have to clarify here though that in this forum I have changed my mind on the death penalty before and may do I again.

Someone said that in the last 60 years no one has been executed who was innocent. If that can be substantiated then it will be a strong argument for me to reverse my earlier move away from the death penalty.

I am not and have never opposed the right of the state to execute criminals in principle. I just don't think the state does a good job of it.

But if it turns out that the state does not execute innocent people and does execute people blindly before the law then perhaps I would change again.

I do favor giving people the chance to repent while in prison and come to know God. Of course for those who already do know God then they do not need a chance to come to know God. Not that the state could execute Christians at a different rate than others or that it could have a "come to know God time". Given how long it takes to be executed everyone probably has plenty of time anyway. The purpose of the DP should be primarily justice. But consider that those who have not repented need more time and those who have repented deserve forgiveness (not freedom). Can they be forgiven and also executed? Sure but it is not the best model of God's forgiveness in which he spares the life of those that deserve death. Am I making religious arguments? Yes, and for me they work. If not for you then consider your own arguments.