It really comes down to three things.
first is whether we as a society want to go down the route of barbarism and sanction killing people and have their blood on our hands even if they are guilty.
second is whether we are willing to accept erroneous executions. they will happen so we have to weight that up against our desire for the third thing.
third is whether punishments are meant to be deterrent and/or correctional or simply about revenge. The reason that people affected by cases in the uk aren’t allowed to be involved in the scentencing is because our laws say we don’t punish for revenge. sentences should be fair and consistent.
If you believe that revenge should be a reasoning behind sentencing and advocate the death penalty then say so, don’t hide behind the statement that it’ll make people think twice or that it’ll have an overall deterrent effect because that’s been clearly shown to be incorrect.
I have a son so apparently I’m qualified to answer the other question 🙄
I’d quite possibly want the guilty party dead at least sometimes. In the mean time.in order to have what is IMO a safer, better society I’d rather have that option taken away. Emotive responses are rarely or even never the best ones.