In my mind, the only cases wherein the death penalty is warranted should have all of these three characteristics:
1. The crime was a pre-meditated murder of an innocent victim.
2. The purpetrator not only does not regret the crime, but is of a disposition to repeat similar crimes if given the opportunity.
3. The purpetrator is capable of committing such a crime in the future.
If these three items are factors, the death penalty would serve as a deterrent by preventing somebody who is able to commit such a heinous crime from ever doing so.
Having said all of that, I don't know that life is ever the wrong answer. There's something to be said about taking the position that it is never right to deliberately end the life of another human entity.
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