The suggestion seems to be that being killed is a lesser punishment than being kept in prison, so it's more merciful to kill people. But at the same time people who say don't kill them are being soft on the murderers?

If there's a logic there, it's not one I can understand.

The point I was making about the execution method, hobie, was that it is in fact technically a form of crucifixion. I don't mean that it is worse than what some of those people killed that way did to their victims. But I don't think it is right to set your standards by that measure.

And once again, the damage that judicial killings do to Americans, especially to American children, is something that can only be guessed at. Even if it were possible to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that the effect is to make people less likely to murder each other, there would still be that damage to take into account.

But in fact what evidence there is seems to suggest that in countries where judicial killings take place, the likelihood of being murdered by your fellow citizens is greater, not less.