The driver of the car now faces two counts of murder as well as the death penalty. This event forced me to reflect on my feelings relating to the death penalty. Have I ever really understood what society has learned from the death penalty and its history. The possibility of error. Sometimes a person might be put to death who is innocent.
Capital punishment is inflicted disproportionately on the poor and minorities.
The death sentence is an effective deterrent of crime, it's more economic than life sentences, it's a moral obligation to the victim's families and it's necessary to bring justice to society. The execution of an offender gives comfort and support for the families of the homicide victims. Weakness of the argument from deterrence. The claim that the threat of capital punishment reduces violent crime is inconclusive, certainly not proven and morally suspect. The length of stay on death row.