Atheist and the Death penalty

[Ravenshire]

The functionalist side of me says: murders and rapists and the sort are drains on society, they are dangerous and they cost money and resources to keep alive and locked up. But I seem to remember hearing that the death penality actually cost more to carry out than the average lifetime in prison. But surely a bullet to the head or the guillotine would be just as effective and a lot cheaper? I don't think that would be more cruel than lethal injections, if more medieval, but if the aim is to reduce stress leading up to the execution and to take the life as painlessly as possible I think they are just as effective as lethal injections. Handing out the death penalty more liberally would help with prison overcrowding I would think but then that reduces jobs, less men to guard means less guards. And there is always a risk when trying to rehabilitate someone. It's not an exact science and everyone who approves the release of say, a 'rehabilitated' rapist, puts their necks on the line, what if they go out and rape someone else? Not saying that it's not worth trying rehabilitation.

And then another side of me says, the death penalty isn't really a punishment for the criminal. Life behind bars is a punishment, but I think the death penalty punishes the criminals loved ones more than them. But.....watching a loved one rot in prison must be difficult too? So would it be worse to let the criminal live out their life in prison, much to the distress of their loved ones, or to end their lives and their 'suffering'?

I am really conflicted and confused about the issue and I'm not sure if either perspectives are exactly what I think about the death penalty.

The method of execution is irrelevant to the expense of a death row inmate. The appeals process is what's so costly. So, unless you're advocating a reduction in the appeals process which would ultimately lead to more people being killed for crimes they didn't commit than there are now...