Despite this systematic inefficiency and incompetence and its consequence of minimization of human life it is important that we understand that the society needs clear laws for which the punishment is also clear and leave little or no room for misinterpretation. The punishment too must suit the crime. The death penalty remains and is perceived by many in our society as giving the highest value to human life. One can argue that the certainty of the death penalty does not have a deterrent effect but be that as it may, I believe that it serves as an emphatic denunciation within our community of murder. In addition any failure to execute murderers puts a burden on society defiling the community.
Society therefore has an obligation to protect itself.
It would therefore be remiss of us as a nation to continue to allow persons who commit murder to go free of the state's punishment. One can assume that Sister Egan by her nature would forgive the perpetrators, but such forgiveness I honestly believe, would only come if the criminals would show remorse, repent and acknowledge Christ as their Saviour. Having said this, one may contend that the push for the death penalty is merely revengeful and does nothing to satisfy those who have lost loved ones. But vengeance is being exemplified by God and as such can be perceived as a virtue so the death penalty is quite appropriate if the perpetrators are found guilty. God's punishments meted out on judgement day upon the wicked have no other purpose than vengeance that is to satisfy justice.