The death penalty legitimizes murder

If it is okay to murder a murderer, then it is okay to murder.

Hence we still have war and murder in the world, and would do better
to listen to Jesus who told us to "love our enemies."*

(because neither murder,  nor murder murder - our new term for the
death "penalty" is okay)

- Of course, tell that to the victims =\  Maybe we should do it like
they do in some Middle Eastern countries where the a relative of the
victim has a choice to blow the murderer away or set him free.

Of course, the death penalty is the least of our worries.  It is
merely a symptom of the criminal culture which grips America.  We need
to eliminate crime.  My recomendation is to give criminals the option
of parole earlier, while at the same time tightening parole standards.
This gives the criminals a bigger incentive to improve in prison
whille at the same time keeping those who do not improve in prison. 
Meanwhile we must increase funding for EDUCATION both inside and
outside of prisons, and teach criminals to learn trades in prison. 
Meanwhile we need to handle the drug problem differently, we need to
test drug legalization with zero advertising, with regulation,
restrictions, and information contained with the drugs, and heavily
heavily increase funding for drug rehabilitation, and impress upon
people that life is difficult enough without a drug habit, and impress
upon our enemies abroad that the earth is impoverished enough without
war.  At the same way, we need to eliminate all advertising for
alcohol and cigarettes (if there is _not_ a free speech issue) as both
are truly gateway drugs.


*Matt 5 Jesus says.............
Love Your Enemies
(6) 43 "You have heard that it was said, "You shall love your neighbor
and hate your enemy.' 44But I say to you, love your enemies, bless
those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those
who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45that you may be sons of
your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on
the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46For if you
love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax
collectors do the same? 47And if you greet your brethren only, what do
you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?
48Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is
perfect.