Support. It is it a vital tool for use in the maintenance of a civilised society.
Oh, so Western Europe (including the country to apparently live in) has collapsed into barbarity? I wasn't aware.
Well, I wouldn't quite put it like that (although when you see inner cities one does often wonder), but, given that the vast majority of civilised societies in the course of human history have maintained some form of capital punishment (indeed, to suggest that a country cannot be civilised and possess the death death penalty entails describing Japan and the United States as being 'uncivilised' nations), I fail to see how using it makes on uncivilised. You see, in my view, someone who is civilised is someone who recognises that there have to be rules, regulations and standards of behaviour, and that these are things which need to be enforced. Whilst I'm not claiming that you don't agree with me on this particular issue (although I'm sure that there are some who do not believe this), I would imagine that you have a much more positive view of human nature than I do. For what it's worth, I think that the standards of decency and behaviour that I have mentioned above can only be properly enforced through he use of 'sticks' as opposed to 'carrots'. Humans are basically bad, and the only way to control this natural badness is through the use of intimidation and conformity from an early age. So, what do humans fear the most... The correct answer is of course death. Now, whilst I do not think that the death penalty will frighten off every murderer (particularly those with mental health issues and the like), I do feel that it is certainly a more intimidating (and just) punishment for one of the crimes that I outlined above than a spell in jail (which offers a chance of redemption, and above all, escape from the consequences of actions committed). I feel that a society that believes it can redeem evil is not one which holds civilised values, but instead one that is thoroughly weak and feeble in the face of that evil. The death penalty (which, if you are a Christian, also hastens the criminals divine judgement) stands for a robust approach towards evil, and I think that it is an essential part of being a civilised person to uphold this robust attitude towards rapists, certain murderers and those who are treasonous.
