Only seven types of murder currently qualify as capital crimes in Texas. First, murder of a child under six years of age because it is considered especially heinous Second, murder of a public safety officer, firefighter or correctional officer Third, murder for remuneration or hire Fourth, murder during the commission of specified felonies like kidnapping or robbery Fifth, murders during prison escapes Sixth, murder by a prisoner serving a life sentence And seventh, multiple murders. Executions serve obvious utilitarian ends and are saved for the worst. Robbers, for example, are encouraged to leave victims and witnesses alive. Murderers have an incentive to stop with one life taken.
Some acts are bad enough to deserve the death penalty, pure and simple.
Ask the victims' families. Few tears were shed when inmates killed Dahmer in prison. Texas ain't Sweden. The murder rate fell 60 percent since Texas started using the death penalty seriously in the 1990s, while the national murder rate fell 33 percent. Maybe, but the spirit and practice of impartial retribution is a mark of civilization.