So, Reno, am I correct in assuming from your post above that you are against the death penalty? I don't believe you actually really said except for saying you were outnumbered 4-1, or something like that.
Those were all interesting and informative statistics that you stated. I have heard or read some statistics regarding this subject before, but I don't remember them at the moment, so I will take your word and references to heart as being correct, etc.
Oh, I honestly don't doubt that knowing they might face the death penalty may not make criminals stop committing crimes, etc. As I said previously, some of them wouldn't care no matter what.
I think we've "reformed" the death penalty and other various laws so much that they have become almost ineffective in some cases. The legal system is for lack of a better description at the moment, a " joke " in some ways. Today's modern day criminals are smart, especially as far as the legal system goes. They may get a lawyer who really doesn't care if they are guilty or not, but will get try to get them off or a lighter sentence, no matter what. They may spend years just waiting to have a sentence enforced (including a death penalty), and during that time be afforded numerous appeals, stays, etc. which may weaken the original death penalty sentence in some ways. These laws and sentences need to be enforced tougher, quicker, and stronger. If that were to happen, the death penalty laws may show more positive results overall.
Interesting quote regarding the "an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind". I can understand that. The sad part though is that we are not talking about eyes here, but lives. If someone receives the death penalty that means most times that they have taken someone else's life, usually in a very cruel way, etc. People can live blinded, and very successful lives at that, however, if someone has been murdered at the hands of another, then that person has lost their life and whatever future they could have had.