There is a simple reason why I support the death penalty: because I do not want people who have committed senseless, harmful, and violent crimes against innocent people to be allowed to remain in prison. my society, locked up or not. I want them to die for their sins. I would first like to point out that I will not cite any biblical passages or offer any kind of religious evidence to support my position, in part because I believe it is possible for anyone to find a passage in the Bible. Bible to flip to support or refute virtually any position on any topic. Also because, since I do not adhere to any specific organized religion, I have had limited exposure to the Bible. However, all this controversy over the moral validity of capital punishment came to my attention the other day while watching television. A PBS program called "Frontline" had done a story on the true story behind the book "Dead Man Walking," written by Sister Helen Prejean, who was a primary source for the making of Tim Robbin's film of the same name. The mannerisms and attitude of the main character, Matthew Poncelet, in "Dead Man Walking" closely resembled that of the real-life death row inmate Robert Lee Willie, whom Sister Prejean counseled spiritually. Furthermore, the experience of the victim, Hope Percy, in the film, and her family's reaction, are very similar to that of the young girl, Faith Hathaway, who was savagely raped, beaten, and killed by Willie. And since Sister Prejean deliberately intended her book to mobilize people against the death penalty, and since this book served as the central basis for the film "Dead Man Walking", I believe it is important for people to be informed... middle of paper....ttims, I think the death penalty has done its job. I might also be attacked on the premise that, like many other institutions in this country, the awarding of the death penalty is racially biased. Unfortunately this accusation may be true and should accordingly be addressed as Americans continue to seek and eradicate the deplorable racist undertones of this country. However, I believe we can fill this worrying gap, without abandoning politics completely. The fact is that the government is not looking for people to sentence to death. It is a fate that can only be forced on someone through their own actions. And to be honest, in my opinion, individuals who commit vile and murderous crimes, who show nothing but a savage indifference to the suffering of another human being, have earned their fate. It's really that simple.