(July 7, 2015 at 8:26 am)Nope Wrote: Intellectually, I do not believe in the death penalty but there is a dark place in me that understands the need to hurt someone who has hurt me. I don't like that part of my personality but it is there.
Agree with this. The rational self may well ascribe to certain principles but when put under stress/pressure these principles can be shelved, ignored or bypassed. I am against the death penalty (for many of the reasons given by posters) and I think revenge is self destructive....but I know that if one of my children was threatened, abused or murdered I would a) want the state to take the ultimate action and/or b) would be prepared to take the law into my own hands. I'm not proud to say this but I believe/know that I would lose control until 'justice' had been served