The death penalty debate in the United States is dominated by anti-death movements. The deceit by many capital punishment opponents suggest that prisoners’ lives are worth more than their victims. Life imprisonment versus punishment equals one thing: injustice.

First, death penalty opponents suggest those who support the death penalty see it as a “solution to crime.” In reality, executions are reserved for those who commit crimes worthy of death.

For example, the white men who dragged the Jasper, Texas, gentleman to death deserve nothing less than execution.

Then we come to those who are saved/born again Christians who claim that they can lead reformed lives. What about the victims’ families — can they lead reformed lives? The Christian community is called upon to articulate standards of justice. Capital punishment is one of those standards of punishment as set forth in Genesis 9:6

Opponents argue that the sanctity of human life is worth more than people realize. If that’s true and no crime deserves the death penalty, then why is it fitting that Christ be crucified for our sins?

The same divine law which forbids killing people (1st Commandment) also allows the exception that Christ be crucified as guilty. The fact that Christ was put to death demonstrates that death was the exacting punishment for those who were guilty.

Rejecting capital punishment as a “higher Christian way” that demonstrates Christian compassion is bogus. Referring to Jesus’ execution Paul said, “It is not without purpose that the ruler carries the sword. He is God’s servant, to inflict his avenging wrath upon the wrongdoer.” (Romans 13:4)

Opponents again equate an execution as murder, believing that if two acts have the same results then those results are equivalent.

I beg to differ. For example, is rape the same as making love? They both result in sexual intercourse, but to equate rape to love making is absurd, as is execution to murder.

Christ himself regarded capital punishment as a just penalty. (Matthew 26:52) Christ gave the government the authority to use capital punishment as a means of maintaining social order.

Currently, the Beets case in Texas has death penalty opponents fuming because she wasn’t granted a reprieve that could have introduced evidence about abuse during her five marriages that possibly although unlikely could have led to her release. In Texas the only way to be granted clemency is if the accused is not guilty and/or if the accused did not have a fair trial.

Beets was found guilty and received a fair trial. If her lawyer had brought evidence of abuse before the court, perhaps the outcome would have been different. Beets and her lawyer decided against it. It was their job to prove her innocence, not the prosecution’s.

The fact that this woman brutally executed her fourth and fifth husbands in Mafia-style manors demonstrates she was a psycho and deserved what she got.

Pope John Paul II said that the only time executions could be justified is to save lives by “defending society.” In this context, the execution of Beets saved future lives. Beets was found guilty, and no amount of public pleading would have helped her.

Simply surmising that we should grant reprieves for people who have “issues” is ludicrous. If this were the case we might as well open all the prison gates, give the criminals weapons and tell them, “Go on your way. We understand your pain. It’s not your fault you’re a murderer, it’s ours.”

The fact is there should be more executions. According to FBI statistics, there are about an average of nearly 365,000 crimes that warrant capital punishment yet only about one percent of these cases become capital punishment cases.

Let presuppose that most cases are as bad as those in Illinois, and cases around the country should be stayed to inquire about biased trials. People in America frankly don’t care. Looking at the cases, many say prisoners get what they deserve, an eye for an eye.

But there are so many protests, something must be wrong, right? No. Most death penalty proponents are often quite and reserved, while juxtaposed, opponents are very loud and try to make as much commotion as possible. The mere fact that seven out of ten Americans support capital punishment is no coincidence.

We often forget about the lives criminals destroy. What happens to the families? What restitution is made on their behalf? Who remembers the victims once they are buried? Nobody except the loved ones.

How about the kid who was recently dragged six miles to his death before passing motorist forced him to stop? Should he be charged with car-jacking or first-degree murder?

Opponents would say car-jacking, try looking the mother in the eye and telling her that.

You couldn’t do it, because you are like the other millions of people who believe that criminals deserve what they reap.

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Andy Gonzales is a junior in political science from El Paso, Texas.