The dilemma lies in our obligation to seek justice for the victims while maintaining our humanity in the process. Those who favor the death penalty are succumbing to an emotional response that is natural toward crimes such as murder. They want revenge. They fail to see that we cannot ethically legislate vengeance. The deterrence doctrine is also flawed.
Premeditation eliminates a penalty threat.
Another belief is that it would be cheaper to execute murderers than to keep them in prison for life. Aside from being callous, this is also a myth. Since those who are sentenced to death are almost exclusively poor, years of appeals with court appointed attorneys occupy expensive court time with prosecutors, judges and a host of other judicial support employees. A life imprisonment sentence would protect society from the criminal just as well as a death sentence, and we could keep the extra tax dollars and our humanity in the same pocket. As Americans, we pride ourselves as the humanitarians of the world and place the sanctity of life among our highest values.