[Vision2020] Study says Death Penalty IS a Deterent

[Joe Campbell]

Donovan,

Here is a quote noting the conclusion of your 'scientific study.'

"What gets little notice, however, is a series of academic studies over the last half-dozen years that claim to settle a once hotly debated argument - whether the death penalty acts as a deterrent to murder. The analyses say yes. They count between three and 18 lives that would be saved by the execution of each convicted killer."

What is missing is the contrasting study: Would killing the killer prevent more lives than, say, putting him in prison for life? There is no evidence to suggest so, as far as I can tell. The "once hotly debated argument" is not about whether death would prevent people from killing. Of course it would! The issue is whether the threat of death prevents anyone from killing. And your 'study' says absolutely nothing about that. There is no evidence here that the death penalty is any more of a deterrent than, say, life without parol.

Best, Joe

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How about that? According to scientific research the death penalty saves 3-18 lives per execution. 
   
  Best,
   
  Donovan