>>As far as I'm concerned, a person who willfuly
>>sp?) kills several other, to him/her unknown,
>>human beings simply has to go: It's a matter of
>>preservation of our species. Sacrifice one life
>>to preserve potentially many others.

I agree with you when you say that there isn't anything wrong with the death penalty if it's actually used to "preserve our species." But does that make it acceptable when other alternatives are available? Self-defense (aka "preservation") is the act of defending yourself, not killing aggressors. That might be necessary as a last resort, but it isn't obligatory, especially if their are nonlethal alternatives. This country is quite capable of keeping someone effectively imprisoned to prevent them from doing any further harm to society without even more bloodshed. That would be the alternative. Execution is unnecessary use of excessive force.

~suspenlute
~newbie who reads too many things on rinkworks and felt like posting! :)