"They should all be killed..."

That's what my brother-in-law recently said to me while we were watching a news story about a murderer on the loose. I found it rather disconcerting that he would say something like that; my brother-in-law is probably the least violent person on the face of the earth. His statement stirred up a heated debate between us. I'll share a little of what went on and let you pick a stance.

He said that murderers, rapists, sexual offenders, child molesters and the like should all be given the death penalty for the atrocious acts they have committed. I agree that some acts are atrocious. Some of the things I hear on the news make me sick to my stomach! However, I also happen to believe in forgiveness and in the mercy of God. My bro-in-law is a Christian, as am I. He's been one for a while now so it's not as if he's not familiar with the concept of grace or forgiveness. But he was of the opinion that some crimes should be punished by death because it's no use hoping that the offenders will someday be reformed. He argued that many of these people go right back to their previous crimes when they're released from prison.

It is true, many offenders re-offend. But my take on it was that we just cannot afford to play God. Ok, so we kill the rapist. And we kill the child molester.
"How about the businessman whose gamble subjects humble families to poverty? Do we kill him too?", I asked.
"No" he said, "his crime is small".
"Even if it somehow leads to the death of another human being" I asked.
"Well, he should die too then", he replied.

At this point I had to point out the error in his argument. He had no standard for determining who got to die and who got to live. The criminal's fate seemed to be dependent on the 'gravity' of the crime. So this is where I ask: are there really small crimes and are we really in a position to mete out the death penalty to one crime and not to another even though both may ultimately cause the same amount of damage?

This is what has occupied my mind for a while and now that I have shared it, I can find respite as I will not carry it with me into another day. Sufficient for the day is its own troubles...