I believe life is so valuable, that those who would take life without cause should be forfeit of theirs. After all, the vast majority of death row inmates are second time offenders. Meaning we caught them, we charged them, and yet we allowed them the opportunity to murder again. That innocent blood is on our heads for not doing something the first time.
Gensis 9:6 Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man, shall his blood be shed.
Pual speaking of government...
Romans 13:3 Do you want to be unafraid of authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.
Sword in the text was taken literally, and was a reference to capital punishment.
Supporting texts are:
Jesus spoke to Peter
Matthew 26:52 Put up your sword in it's place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. (no matter how unjust the arrest of Jesus was, Peter had no right to commit murder)
Leviticus 24:17 Whoever kills any man shall surely be put to death.
You can correlate the murder rates in America directly to our moving away from this divine statement. As authority has abrogated it's duty to wield the sword, evil has been unabated.
