and of course, it is not true that we should never kill. These are decisions with serious consequences - but decsions none-the-less that many of us have to make in our lifetime.

Most people believe that there are just wars, and killing must happen in war. Most people accept that self-defense is a just cause for killing - as is protection of your family - many believe protection of property can be just cause for killing - many of us will need to decide whether or not to terminate a pregnancy - or "pull the plug" on a parent, child or spouse. These are all conditions that most of us believe are conditions where killing is an acceptable, justifiable act.

I say the argument is not over whether or not it is acceptable to kill - but under what circumstances it is acceptable to kill. If a society says that under certain criminal codes, capital punishment is OK - then that society is defining those circumstances.

We can argue about whether or not society should define capital punishment as OK - but I'm afraid the majority will rule, on that arguement. And has, in the US.