George, I'm sorry about the murder within your family. I, too, have had friends who were gunned down (I won't even say "for no good reason" because what reason can there be?). I think we can see why the country's legal system was designed so that independent judges and juries determine guilt and impose sentences, rather than leaving it to the discretion of the victims or their loved ones. For us, no punishment would be good enough.

I know Archie seems argumentative about this sensitive subject, but Skip's original post implied that murderers would be free to ply their trade in NJ since there is no death penalty. In light of that, Archie is right to keep the inquiry somewhat realistic,something I tried with a mocking post but he asked a more pointed question. Realistically, society won't just leave criminals to rot, either - unless a vast majority of Americans think that's the right thing to do and change a lot of laws to make it happen. And why is that? I think it's because everyone loves the Old Testament when it comes to crimes committed against them, but they prefer the New Testament when they caught speeding on the freeway.

I live in Michigan - a high-homicide state. Whatever drives a person to kill doesn't seem to be tempered by the punishment that will follow. Working for the court system, I dealt with hundreds of murders. Most are drug related, most are between people who know each other, and not a single one was committed by someone who lured his victim to Michigan simply so he could commit the act in a non-death state.

Also having worked in the court system, I see how many times judges and juries get it wrong. I would support the death penalty when someone is caught red-handed and there is absolutely no doubt. But the system is only set up to measure "reasonable" doubt, and I have seen enough convictions overturned later due to DNA evidence or real confessions that I question whether it is right to sentence to death when any level of mistake may have been made in the conviction process.

I have never voted for a Democrat. I am extremely conservative on legal, financial, and social matters. I have never opposed a war, and wouldn't dream of cutting the troops' funding even if I did oppose it. I can even accept collateral damage, but not when it comes to executions in my home state.

As you can see, George, it's hard to keep a discussion like this light-hearted. All voices should be heard and seriously considered, because we all have to live with the results. I'll admit there are days when I wish Michigan had the death penalty (and those days seem to increase as the years go on), but overall I still accept where my state stands on this important issue.