Lonny N Sherry Bower, it's a sad commentary on our society that you think supporting the murder of a person convicted--rightly or wrongly of murder--is the solution to murder.  How does the state committing violence against a person deter violence?  Violence begets violence. That's the plain truth of it. I assume you're aware that numerous innocent people have been executed in death penalty states?  What punishment should there be for the state, and the population that supports the death penalty, when that happens? After all, they've murdered an innocent man or woman.