MtheGM says, Can you really denounce the whole of history before about mid-C19 as relating to the "uncivilised"?

True, Mike. Until the middle of the 19th century, most executions were carried out for "civilised" political reasons. I think that's been the case through most of history - people were executed for political reasons. It's only in our enlightened modern times that we execute people for actually committing horrible atrocities.

I still oppose the death penalty, but I have to say that most people executed in the U.S., are people who committed horrendous crimes. And I have to have great sympathy for the victims of these crimes, and for their families.

But victims of crimes don't really know what they want, since there's really nothing that can repay a horrendous crime. The public outcry in the U.S. demands the death penalty, and nothing less, for horrendous crimes. I believe that execution doesn't do anybody any good, but I don't know how to convince the victims' rights people of that.

-Joe-