The Death Penalty Maintains Justice It is not a triumph that death sentences are routinely carried out, or even that such a tool is necessary in our society . However, the fact remains that society demands the death penalty, and believing that the issue is one-sided or easily answered would be a fatal mistake. It is best to keep in mind the absolute aspects of the death penalty: first, that once carried out, the outcome cannot be reversed. This seems like an obvious point, but it is worth remembering, as it warns us that state-sanctioned executions should never be taken lightly. Equally firm is the fact that, in most cases, the death penalty is a matter of justice and equality. In most crimes, the purpose of punishment is to rehabilitate the convicted person and send a warning to others who may commit similar crimes. In contrast, the death penalty is neither intended to rehabilitate nor deter others from capital crimes. Certainly, the threat of ultimate punishment may give pause to a small percentage, but most capital cases involve a defendant who is far from rational enough to weigh the costs. and the benefits of his action. However, this misconception of the death penalty as a deterrent is a weak and constantly trotted out argument against capital punishment. Many people ask, "If the death penalty works, why doesn't the murder rate go down?" The answer is that the death penalty is a matter of justice and the preservation of society. Some crimes are so abominable that the convicted person does not deserve to continue living. We are not fully living in Hammurabi's “an eye for an eye” era, but neither have we come close to a crime-free utopia that would allow for the end of the death penalty. Instead, do we compromise, reserving the execution for the m...... middle of paper ......ild, or a ruthless killer? Relatively speaking, which the secular left is so fond of, these right-wing fanatics seem to have reason and logic on their side. The fetus we know is innocent; on the contrary, we can be sure that those sentenced to death have done something to fit into their current situation. Therefore, if someone were to die, it would seem that we would choose the most guilty person. While no death penalty advocate enjoys the idea or triumphs in the latest execution, simply shrugging one's shoulders at the horror of some crimes makes a mockery of equal protection. according to the law and, most importantly, the primacy of justice within our community. The death penalty enjoys such strong support – 66% even after recent stumbles in some states (www.gallup.com/poll/indicators/inddeath_pen.asp) – because most people recognize its important role.