Many conservatives use the death penalty as some sort of barometer for haw tough a politician may be on the issue of violent crime involving murder. First off, let us examine the issue in depth. Ask your self a few questions. Has the death penalty reduced the amount of murders in the U.S.? Has the death penalty created a guaranteed way out or years or a lifetime of imprisonment? The argument could be made that the death penalty creates a fulfillment of suicidal wishes of those convicted of murder. Is the death penalty a gift to those who face the possibility of life in prison? I would ask you, is it more of a penalty to live out the rest of your life with the guilt and confinement that are associated with a murder conviction? I would argue that the death penalty is a vacation provided for by the state from a convicts mental anguish for heinous immoral acts. If conservatives are all about harsh punishment you would think they would be against the death penalty and for the murderer to be sentenced to a lifetime of watching the view, or reruns of concentration camp pictures and video 23 hours a day. Is death an escape from the thought and regret of taking another human life? Do many convicts wish for death instead of life in prison away from freedom and their family? I would say the death penalty is a vacation from their anguish of their actions. The death penalty in my opinion, only serves the wish or revenge for the family and friends of the victim. Many do not realize the other issue the death penalty creates. The fact is the concept is held within the Bible. The government mandating and paying for the death penalty is a direct support for religion. The Death penalty is government sponsorship of Biblical Law. This is a direct violation of the constitutional prohibition or state promotion of religion. The Biblical verses that order the death penalty for murder are: Numbers: 35:16-21/21:12-14. What is more disturbing is that even Christ in 1st John 3:15 and Matthew 5:21 would treat everybody who hates their brother (fellow mankind) is a murderer and should be treated the same in court. This is Jesus prescribing capitol punishment by the court for just hateful thoughts. Now hate is not a virtuous thought. But is it worthy of death? No, yet even Christ would let people who hate be put to death by sentence of a court. That’s love? I do not think so. This is why we must revisit the issue of the legality of the death sentence. Not under cruel and unusual punishment standards, instead it should be reviewed for reasons of promotion of religion by the state.