Capital punishment is not a deterrent to crime. If it was then how do you explain why our murder rates are so much higher than the European countries or any other progressive, civilized country? People know they can get the death sentence and they do it anyway. Also, before I hear this argument, after all the appeals and lawyer fees and everything else, it costs more to execute(kill) someone than it does to imprison them for life. Don't take my word for it, do some research before you blow up this board. I would hate to think we would kill someone for economic reasons anyway. Capital punishment is barbaric and is nothing more than state supported murder.