scale model guillotine

Do I "believe in the death penalty"? I have an issue with the question. It's like asking whether I believe in Santa Claus. My belief or disbelief does not change the fact that the death penalty exists. Now, do I believe that it is a successful deterrent? No. People commit crimes for too many reasons for me to believe that a fear of death would deter them all, or even most of them. Besides, death is a possibility in some of the crimes committed anyway, which leads me to believe that the alleged criminals have already considered that possibility or consider themselves to be immortal. Granted, many probably don't think it through that far, but I know how desperation can drive one to do things regardless of the consequences. So no, I don't think it works as a deterrent. And if the question is instead intended to determine whether I believe certain people deserve to die...well, apparently we all deserve to die. Do I believe that some people should be murdered, that their very existence is a blight on humanity? Yes, but I'm actually more interested in why they became what they became than with their extermination. Help people to be conscientious democratic citizens from the start, and you won't have to worry about killing them later...most of the time...in theory.