i did believe in the death penalty but not the ability of the state to be competent to administer it. not because of deterrence either, some people are just too dangerous to keep around. then i read what Thomas Paine said in his argument against the execution of Louis XVI during the French revolution. he said, "man has no property in man." with this one simple statement of philosophy, he ruled out monarchy, slavery, and capital punishment. self defense is still not a violation of anyone's rights.