Car theft ends with baby strangled

[enlightenment]

9. Sometimes standing by your principles is

the correct thing to do. What was the alternative? That he compromise his principles to appeal to the emotions of a largely blood-thirsty, eye-for-an-eye public?

I recall that debate and I know that I would have lost respect for the man had he tried to weasel-word his way out of that question.

The bottom line is pretty clear. One is either opposed to the death penalty or one isn't. If a person can find exceptions to their opposition, they are not opposed. They may find it distasteful and genuinely believe it should be used only in certain circumstances - but at the base level, they do not fundamentally oppose the notion of killing someone convicted of a crime for that crime.