Killing For Vengeance

Killing for vengeance not deterrence - pickpocket story - Why do we kill? If you cut away all the fat, it is probably for retribution and vengeance. It couldn't be much of a deterrent because we've had he death penalty for years and there are hundreds and hundreds of people on death row. Many countries have had the death penalty. England once had the death penalty for 172 offenses. They put adulterers to death. They would put pickpockets to death. The interesting thing is that they had public executions. They would bring a pickpocket out, convict him, hang him by the neck in public so that the crowds could gather around and assemble and see the fate that would befall pickpockets. Do you know what? They found out that when they executed pickpockets there were more people at the execution getting their pockets picked than any other time. It doesn't deter crime. That's not the question today, whether it deters crime or whether its just retribution. The question is whether, under the circumstances you have heard, this man should be put to death.