But this is faulty logic. If we wanted to do that, the sentence for rape would be for the rapist to be raped himself. Now I don't even believe in God, but for those who do, he's saying vengeance is his responsibility, not ours. Now I don't know about you, but I've committed a few sins in my time. Not any of the big ones, but a few of the second-class variety, the kind that get you suspended but not expelled, so I don't feel comfortable casting stones at anybody.
Statistics show that the majority of the American people favor the death penalty.
But not so fast. And a closer look at the numbers reveals something else, too. A 1993 nationwide survey revealed that although 77 percent of the public approves of the death penalty, support drops to 56 percent if the alternative is punishment with no parole eligibility until 25 years in prison. Support drops even further, to 49 percent, if the alternative is no parole under any conditions. And if the alternative is no parole plus restitution, it drops still further, to 41 percent.