On Death and the Death Penalty

August 8, 2020

I used to pride myself in vacillating on the death penalty. Like I’m totally nuanced and complicated because I can see both sides of the issue. On the one hand killing people who kill people to show that killing people is wrong is stupid. On the other hand if someone hurt or killed people I love I’d like to do them in myself, let me do the injection please, flip the switch, revenge is sweet. But I think I’ve come to the conclusion that capital punishment is bullshit. It doesn’t discourage killers. I watch and listen to a lot of true crime. Most murders are crimes of passion, in-the-moment outbursts of rage against someone close. And crazy psychopathic killers don’t give a shit about repercussions, the thrill of the moment is worth it. Either way, capital punishment is not a deterrent. The threat of punishment is worthless. Surviving victims do not feel a sense of relief. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from thousands of hours of true crime it’s that victims families never get over it. Seeing their loved ones killer executed never gives a sense of solace or justice. The crime is still just as horrible, the loss never abates. The cost. California spends an average of $308 million on each person on death row. Life in solitary would cost a fraction of that. It is immoral. Killing people is wrong. Upholding the standards of a civil society is important, killing people who kill people to show that killing people is wrong is stupid. We’re better than that. I’m not down with capital punishment. I’ve always been for and against the death penalty but I think from now on I’m against.