We must try and empathize with the families left in the wake of grave misfortunes like the Gainesville student murders. We should even expect them to demand a violent punishment for a violent crime, but state law does not permit these family members to act on their rage. In fact, there are no laws in existence that would justify family members striking out at the criminals who inflicted so much pain in their lives. Killing those who commit murder does not solve anything but instead perpetuates a brand of swift justice unacceptable in a civilized society. Those who do use vigilante tactics to avenge crime victims are punished just as fervently as random criminals.
Capital punishment is a contradiction in every sense of the word.
The individual is incarcerated while the state applauds itself for ridding the population of evil. It is a double standard that fuels a system riddled with injustice and bureaucracy. Trying to compel a society not to kill by killing is unconscionable. In theory, the death penalty is not imposed on behalf of the families of the crime victims but rather to protect and serve the people. Bush blames the judicial system for the delays that prolong the lives of death row inmates up to 14 years after they are issued capital punishment.