A person's opinion on the death penalty depends on their life experiences, I think. Those that have experienced the murder of a close family member probably have a different opinion than those who discuss the issue with no particular experience or maybe inadequate thought. Those with that type of unfortunate experience probably favor the death penalty, not so much as a deterrent but as a penalty comparable to the crime committed and a way to assure that the perpetrator is never again permitted to enjoy the freedoms of law abiding citizens.

The laws of many states and our federal government often have sentencing guidelines that are disturbingly generous to those convicted of some pretty awful crimes. If you were related to a victim, you might be disturbed to find that the person who took the life of your loved one could be walking free in a time much shorter than you might imagine. You might be willing to accept a sentence such as "life imprisonment with no chance of parole" instead of death. But would your opinion change if you found that your state's sentencing guidelines prescribed a sentence of only 15-20 years for a person convicted of a heinous crime against your family member? And then permitted that sentence to be shortened significantly for "good behavior" while in prison? That's a more common situation than most people realize. I have had such an experience. But while I can't say that I am an activist proponent of the death penalty, I do think it is an appropriate penalty in a significant number of murder cases.

Regardless of one's feelings regarding the laws and penalties prescribed by our worldly courts, victims can and should be comforted by the knowledge that criminals will ultimately face judgement by God with a far more fearsome consequence that any that can be even imagined by our worldly courts. If unrepentant criminals go to sleep each night with a deep fear of that judgement day, that would be a sufficient penalty for me. But by definition, those that are unwilling to repent are also unlikely to fear any such judgement by God. Taking the life of that type of person is probably appropriate.

I don't intend to debate this question. But I do wish to point out that people should consider walking in a victim's shoes before forming an opinion on the issue of the death penalty too quickly.