skittles wrote:The murder rate is a function of many factors. The foremost would definitely be the consequences through law. I'm basing that on the commonality of murder in lawless parts of the world where life necessities are not lacking.
I don't consider the death penalty debate to be about revenge or striking back. It's just a matter of deciding on rules that make society safer.
Just so you know, there are groups trying to abolish solitary confinement.
Again:
Times in (western at least) history where murder rate was quite high, were certainly not times that lacked the death penalty.
The murder rate today is incredibly low most places, including in countries with no death penalty whatsoever.
So, if the death penalty is the kind of deterrent you are implying it is, we would we see more of a one-to-one relationship than we do. That said, totalitarian societies are often obsessed with law and order, and so hey, less murder...other than those in power of course;)