Is the Death Penalty Necessary?

Yes, I can see that you "could really care less", as that is why you continue to react to each of my comments. You're not even interested in knowing why you might just be wrong in your thinking, but you are interested in defending yourself, it seems.

btw, I've called you no names. All I've said is that from what YOU HAVE STATED, it appears that you are not a Christian. You have given in to a false god, false Jesus, & your own religion through your piecemeal, cut & paste, of God's Word, the Bible.

This is what God wants you to know . . .
"But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough."

"For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve." 2 Cor 11:3-4; 13-15

I'm assuming that the above verses have been removed from your little bible, too, right? I mean, it obviously won't fit in with the god you have made for yourself.

So, feel free to move on. You're not obligated to read my posts or respond to them. I'm also not interested in wasting any more of my time on someone who will not give God an honest hearing, who has closed their mind to the truth. I will, however, pray for you. And yes, I know you didn't ask for that, but this is what I do through Jesus Christ, my Lord. God loves you & wants ALL of you, not just bits & pieces as you see fit. I love you, too, & don't want to see you suffer for making the wrong choices.

1) "Thou shalt not 'MURDER [lo tirtzach]'". God killed a LOT of people, so was He going against His own commandment? Shame on Him!!

2) No proof, sorry. Crazies abound on conspiracy theories.

3) If you killed one of them in self-defense, you'd be exonerated & you know it.

4) You don't support our soldiers? Now, why does that not surprise me? Though immoral acts may be committed by individual soldiers, the underlying principle of national defense is not negated. Killing the enemy in combat is not sinful; "You shall not murder [lo tirtzach]" refers only to the criminal act of homicide, not taking the life of enemy soldiers in legitimate warfare.

"Then Jesus said to Him [Peter]; 'Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword [refers to crime of homicide] shall perish by the sword [refers to capital punishment for that homicide]." Matt 26:52

"But if you will not do so [not go to war], behold, you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin [of cowardice] will find you out [personal & national repercussions]." Num 32:23

"For rulers [government] are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword [capital punishment] for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger [arbiter of justice] who brings wrath upon the one who practices evil; ..." Rom 13:1-7

1) We're not looking to "bring back" the dead, nor should you care what progressive tree-huggers think about ANYTHING. So, moot point.
2) It should be grueling, simply because there's a decision to kill another human being involved; however, the system needs to be revised to make it more efficient. I'm sorry that your family has to keep re-living the whole thing day after day after day.
3) Again, the process/system needs to be streamlined so that punishment is not delayed over a year or two.
4) It ought to send a message that if you murder or rape someone, you will DIE. There should be no mercy. MURDER is bad, KILLING (life for a life, self-defense) is good. Keep those two words separate in your mind.
5) If you dwell on how many people were affected when your uncle was unmercifully murdered, for no good reason, then you can dwell on how many people are affected when their relative is killed for a REASON. Most families know they've got a black-sheep amongst them, if they're "good" people, & probably know that it's only a matter of time before the blackness catches up with them. If they're a "bad" family, then they probably need to suffer, also, for raising a spawn of satan. Clear your head, take a deep breath, & stop thinking like a bleeding-heart liberal for goodness sake!

If there is NO capitol punishment, you suffer every year at his parole hearings, so pushing for the death penalty may end it for you in 10-20 years, rather than the rest of your life. Make lemons out of lemonades & stop whining.

btw, I AM very sorry for your loss & for what this is doing to you and your family, so don't think I'm being a callous so & so regarding your situation. There's a point where you've got to let stuff go, give it over to God, & move forward. Suffering & tragedy changes everyone, but it's up to you whether it destroys you or makes you a stronger person. Your choice.

"Killing is good" is a relative phrase. When comparing it to "murder", which is what I was doing, then killing IS good. Our soldiers have to "kill", & that is not "good", but is necessary. War is always horrible, but to deny that it is necessary is silly & immature. Defending ones' homestead with deadly force may sometimes be necessary, but it's not "good" in that it didn't have to happen if the perpetrator had not gotten it into his/her head to invade the privacy & territory of another citizen.

I didn't say it was a "comfort" for a family to know they've got a black sheep amongst them. I basically said that it would not come as a surprise to the family when something terrible comes of the behaviors of the "bad sheep". We cannot let criminals go unpunished just because they have a family that may mourn their death or incarceration.

You can refuse to condone something all you want, as it's your prerogative as a free citizen. Society should not have to support a murderer in prison for the remaining portion of their life. Unfortunately, our penal system takes too long from a guilty verdict until carrying out of the death penalty.

Attempts to commit suicide is not normal, even for someone who has lost a loved one due to murder. I imagine your cousin is getting professional help, and that's a good thing. The "bleeding heart" comment was taken very wrong by you, but that's understandable based on what you've said. I'm sorry that I can't say anything that will make you feel better. I'm in support of the death penalty & you are not. We'll have to agree to disagree, or you can go off half-cocked again.

You ALWAYS have a choice as to how you handle life's ups and downs. Pain & suffering is a part of everyone's life, and it ALWAYS changes us, for the good or for the bad, but change it does. We have a CHOICE as to whether it will turn us into an embittered, angry, ball of emotional fluff, or a stronger, more compassionate, & wise, stable human being. You seem to primarily be emoting, without much thought. I don't discount your pain & suffering, but I can tell you from experience that if you don't get a handle on it, it will consume you. That's my advise from years of experience. Take it or leave it.