For those who say that lethal injection is not cruel and unusual, that is what will be seen. And for those who insist that the state must not commit or condone murder, they will see an abomination. But I do think it important that the public not be shielded from the reality of the death penalty. A convicted person is actually put to death. In the past this process was traditionally made public.
Some people really believe the death penalty is a deterrent.
Others are convinced it truly is retribution. Still others faithfully believe that it breaks a God-given code, one of the Ten Commandments. For them, only God can rightly take a life, and so to be consistent, these people would also be against abortion. But some, despite being against abortion, are for the death penalty. What we are dealing with is the deep-down fear, horror and fascination with death.