I mean, the main issue I have with the death penalty is that it puts the punitive goals of prison ahead of the rehabilitative ones, and I think that's one of the biggest failings of the American prison system, in my opinion...I think you guys are missing out big time with that, given how much you spend on imprisoning such a large portion of the population.
But I respect the thought process behind what you're saying, if that's all there is to it. I guess I would just counter with maybe face your own imminent demise, and
then let me know if you'd want that rushed, or if you'd want a few more days to be bored, ripping up paper.
I do not believe everyone can be rehabilitated. To the contrary, I believe few people can change once they are and adult or even older teen - even if they want to. That nearly everyone will revert to who they are. Many believe a pedophile can not be cured. The most that can be hoped for is the person restrains himself.
The fact is across all of known human history, there are sadistic, sociopathic and psychotic mass murderers and otherwise psychologically disturbed people. There is a violent, sadistic side with nearly everyone in my opinion - a side that wants to hurt enemies, wants enemies to suffer, etc.
For property crimes and other non-violent crimes I believe a person MIGHT be able to be educated that they reason not to do those crimes is they will end up in jail. They will never think it is wrong, just too risky. The same for those who have it within themselves to hurt and/or kill people where it had nothing to do with self defense or of anyone else. Rather, they did it for pleasure and/or power over others - like all rapists.
I do not think prisons should be where the convicted are abused, turned into slave labor or any of that. I do think they should be required to work if possible, and paid a small salary for it. Education should be available, particularly learning a job skill. But I do not believe a mass murderer could EVER be deemed rehabilitated and safe.
There was just a case last month of a murderer sentenced to life without parole was released after serving over 2 decades, nearly 3. Within a week of his release, he had murdered another woman - and EXACTLY how he had done so before. The question is not if anyone can be put on a better path in life (rehabilitated) as the answer is yes. The question is what about murderers who can't - or there is no way to ever really know the person has been?
The slogan is "don't take the law into your own hands." Allow society to administer "justice" because society will be very careful to make certain the person is guilty. In my opinion, execution (swift) is justice for the victim and moreso the survivors (family, children, spouse etc). Once it proven thru due process the person did commit pre-meditated murder(s), then the priority is for justice for the victim and survivors harmed. Focusing on what is best for the murder is the wrong priority.
The other people in prison have a full legal right not to be murdered too - and prison is where people with life sentences without parole are sent. Every year, those murders will murder dozens of people in prison and hundreds or thousands will be terrorized, extorted, assaulted and/or raped. Where is the justice of putting a psychotic murderer in with them? Doesn't that turn the sentence of the petty meth dealer into a death sentence? If a psychotic mass murderer is given a life sentence, where are you going to put him that does not endanger others except for the torture of solitary confinement?
We won't be changing each other's mind. Few people ever change their position on the death penalty. However, it seems we agree that prisons should be safe and humane. If not, they make people even more violent and can turn non-violent men into violent men - because for years they are around violent men and the prison runs on violence.