There is absolute zero statistical evidence that supports the argument that the death penalty is a deterrent to violent crime. Violent criminals never think of the consequences of their actions while committing the crime. Infact, in Canada, when we abolished the death penalty, violence crime actually went down.
It has already been mentioned that killing an inmate is more expensive by a factor of almost 2 as compared to keeping them in prison for life. So there's no economical argument to be made on the death penalty's merit.
Therefore the only arguments I have seen to maintain the death penalty is out of vengeance for the victims. Wow. Good to know we're still living in the middle ages. Not to mention that the death of one innocent person outweights the deaths of all criminals and the sense of gratification for every victim's families.
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