Atheist and the Death penalty

[Fidel_Castronaut]

Everyone seems to be asking why it is justifiable to execute some criminals, can anyone answer why not? Is human life sacred or is the risk of killing an innocent person too high?

I just think the death penalty is a reflection of an archaic system not worthy of an enlightened and advanced state.

Are the costs involved in keeping and hopefully reforming a prisoner for an indeterminate length of time (life perhaps) higher? Yes. Does it seem a light punishment to simply confine a person who has committed murder and taken someone's life? Debatable, but even if yes, I don't think that's still a justification, just utilitarian end justifies the means approach to saving money.

No justice system that doesn't have access to perfect information is infallible, hence no system can say without any doubt that nobody who they have killed is innocent. Some are of course sure bets, where the evidence is overwhelming that they are guilty. But still, the idea of the state (or indeed anyone) being legally mandated to excecute people doesn't sit well with me.

I am willing to incur the costs of confining and reforming even if those costs are higher in financial terms. Of course, it's an entire different debate as to whether it makes any sense at all to discuss this topic in terms of finances.