Reply #22: The concept of someone deserving to die is an emotional backlash

[Az]

It comes from the nature of how we learn things. We learn by copying. We teach by demonstrating. When someone does something wrong we first try to show them the right way to do it. But if they fail to learn from that and what they are doing causes someone harm we presume they do not understand the harm they are causing and thus we try to cause them harm similar to what they are causing so that they may understand it.

In the case of an emotional reaction to a harm that is so overwhelming we often come to the conclusion that the perpetrator deserves to die as that is the only way to convey to them the degree of harm they have caused others. Of course this does not achieve the purpose intended as once dead a person stops learning much of anything.

No one deserves to die. Once a dangerous person is held and controlled there is no need to kill them. Confinement suffices. Killing them teaches them nothing. Even in the case of killing someone while defending yourself the attacker does not deserve to die. But it may be necessary in such a case.