In an ideal world, I am sure that no would envisage taking of human life thru the judicial process. It's a huge burden for everyone along the chain.
We have people in AG, judges in high court, the cabinet some of whom have sterling records, graduated from the best universities, achieved many things in life and who could have done much better in the private sector. Why would they want to soil their hands and get involved hanging someone. Why does any humane and developed society impose the death penalty.
The people along this chain that leads to the death penalty, have the money and means to stay in good and safe suburbs, in good class bungalows with high security Walls and not have to deal with riff rafts, drug addicts, and other low life. It's no skin of their back if a criminal is hanged or not. I am also sure that it's not eye for eye as their property or loved ones were harmed.
Now look at the victims. Where do you think they generally come from. Typically the general population, the vulnerable, the young and the old that cannot defend themselves. Who then defends them. Who provides the security umbrella for you and me to walk to and from the MRT, school, workplace at all hours of the day and night. Or do we let society handle it's problem on a personal level.
The death penalty is the single biggest deterrent. Take it away and the equation rapidly changes. Before the imposition of the death penalty for trafficking, drugs were freely available that it dragged the kids of the rich and poor into it's orbit. There were whole HDB blocks that were infested with drug addicts. Even Vincent Wijeysingha lost an elder brother to drugs and the father was respected RI principal. Swee Kee Chicken Rice business folded because of drugs. The rich sent their kids to overseas clinics while the poor tended to themselves. The moment the death penalty kicked in , the scenario changed very quickly.
We all can sit on our hands and watch the world go by without the death penalty but it will be a different world.
Watch the liberal European states - convicted criminals kidnapping young girls, keeping them in dungeons and then killing them. The consequence - a life sentence. Just explore the torment and torture these girls went thru before their lives were snuffed. Imagine the angst and mind of the parents after the facts surfaced.
The issue is not eye for an eye. It is the deterrent. We can't stop all but we sure can stop many more. The price of safety and peace of mind.
All I am saying is that if we deny criminals the right to live then we are no better than the criminals themselves. This certainly does not mean crime should go unpunished.