First of all, I take exception to the thread title. An entire country does not "slide into depravity" because of the practices of some semi-autonomous states within that country.

I am opposed to the death penalty for a couple of reasons, but for one major reason.

First, a person who commits murder proves that he or she is not fit to mingle with the rest of the human race. And these persons should be isolated from the rest because they have demonstrated that they are dangerous. Life in prison with no possibility of parole is sufficient.

This removes the person from society so they can no longer be dangerous to others.

And most important, should it be determined that the person actually is innocent, they can be released from prison—with just compensation for the error.

Someone, I forget who, once said that it is better that fifty guilty persons go free than for one innocent person to be put to death.

Don Firth