1 00:00:01,829 --> 00:00:07,089 There are almost no issues where I don’t understand both sides: taxation, the size 2 00:00:07,089 --> 00:00:11,080 of government, abortion, socialism, capitalism. 3 00:00:11,080 --> 00:00:16,260 As strongly as I feel about any issue, I understand the opposition. 4 00:00:16,260 --> 00:00:20,900 But there is an exception: the death penalty for murder. 5 00:00:20,900 --> 00:00:26,400 Here, the gulf is unbridgeable between those of us who believe that some murderers 6 00:00:26,400 --> 00:00:33,940 – and I emphasize some murderers – should be put to death and those who believe that no murderer 7 00:00:33,940 --> 00:00:36,320 should ever be put to death. 8 00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:37,860 Take this example: 9 00:00:37,860 --> 00:00:44,960 On the afternoon of July 23, 2007, in the town of Cheshire, Connecticut, two men broke 10 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:50,300 into the home of Dr. William Petit, his wife Jennifer and his two daughters. 11 00:00:50,300 --> 00:00:56,660 The men beat Dr. Petit nearly to death with a baseball bat; one of the men raped the doctor’s wife; 12 00:00:56,660 --> 00:01:02,040 and the other man sexually assaulted their 11 year-old daughter, Michaela. 13 00:01:02,040 --> 00:01:07,460 The two men then strangled Mrs. Petit to death, tied down the two daughters on beds, 14 00:01:07,460 --> 00:01:14,260 doused them with gasoline, and, while the girls were still alive, set the house on fire. 15 00:01:14,260 --> 00:01:18,280 Dr. Petit survived, but his wife and daughters did not. 16 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:24,260 Those opposed to capital punishment believe that these two men have a right to keep their lives. 17 00:01:24,300 --> 00:01:29,060 So, is there anything a person can do to deserve the death penalty? 18 00:01:29,060 --> 00:01:32,720 To those opposed to capital punishment, the answer is no. 19 00:01:32,720 --> 00:01:37,000 In fact, many opponents of capital punishment believe that killing murderers 20 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:38,920 is the same as murder. 21 00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:44,300 You heard me right – most opponents equate the murder of an innocent family with putting 22 00:01:44,300 --> 00:01:47,360 the murderers of that family to death. 23 00:01:47,360 --> 00:01:52,180 Opponents of capital punishment also argue that keeping all murderers alive 24 00:01:52,180 --> 00:01:55,700 sanctifies the value of human life. 25 00:01:55,700 --> 00:01:57,200 But the opposite is true. 26 00:01:57,200 --> 00:02:02,620 Keeping every murderer alive cheapens human life because it belittles murder. 27 00:02:02,620 --> 00:02:05,040 That’s easily proven. 28 00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:08,900 Imagine that the punishment for murder were the same as the punishment 29 00:02:08,900 --> 00:02:11,740 for driving over the speed limit. 30 00:02:11,740 --> 00:02:15,900 Wouldn’t that belittle murder and thereby cheapen human life? 31 00:02:15,900 --> 00:02:17,500 Of course, it would. 32 00:02:17,500 --> 00:02:24,260 Society teaches how bad an action is by the punishment it metes out. 33 00:02:24,260 --> 00:02:28,920 And what about the pain inflicted on the loved ones of those murdered? 34 00:02:28,920 --> 00:02:34,630 For most people, their suffering is immeasurably increased knowing that the person who murdered 35 00:02:34,630 --> 00:02:40,880 their family member or friend – and who, in many cases, inflicted unimaginable terror – 36 00:02:40,880 --> 00:02:44,360 is alive and being cared for. 37 00:02:44,360 --> 00:02:49,200 Of course, putting the murderer to death doesn’t bring back their loved one, but it sure does 38 00:02:49,200 --> 00:02:51,460 provide some sense of justice. 39 00:02:51,460 --> 00:02:57,170 That’s why Dr. Petit, a physician whose life is devoted to saving lives, wants the 40 00:02:57,170 --> 00:03:00,060 murderers of his wife and daughters put to death. 41 00:03:00,060 --> 00:03:05,660 In his words, death "is really the only true just punishment for certain 42 00:03:05,660 --> 00:03:07,920 heinous and depraved murders." 43 00:03:07,920 --> 00:03:09,200 Is the doctor wrong? 44 00:03:09,200 --> 00:03:10,380 Is he immoral? 45 00:03:10,380 --> 00:03:14,920 Well, if you think capital punishment is immoral, then Dr. Petit is immoral. 46 00:03:14,920 --> 00:03:19,500 And what about opponents’ argument that an innocent person may be executed? 47 00:03:19,500 --> 00:03:23,600 This argument may be sincerely held, but it’s not honest. 48 00:03:23,600 --> 00:03:24,480 Why? 49 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:29,660 Because opponents of capital punishment oppose the death penalty even when there is absolute 50 00:03:29,660 --> 00:03:32,040 proof of the murderer’s guilt. 51 00:03:32,040 --> 00:03:37,660 If there were a video of a man burning a family alive, opponents of capital punishment would 52 00:03:37,660 --> 00:03:40,300 still oppose taking that man’s life. 53 00:03:40,300 --> 00:03:47,060 Moreover, by keeping every murderer alive, many MORE people are murdered -– other prisoners, 54 00:03:47,060 --> 00:03:52,750 guards and people outside of prison in case of escape or early release -- than the infinitesimally 55 00:03:52,750 --> 00:03:56,680 small number of people who might be wrongly executed. 56 00:03:56,680 --> 00:04:02,740 And now, with DNA testing and other advanced forensic tools, it is virtually impossible 57 00:04:02,740 --> 00:04:05,640 to execute an innocent person. 58 00:04:05,640 --> 00:04:10,730 Then there is the argument offered by some people in the name of religion that only God 59 00:04:10,730 --> 00:04:12,980 has the right to take human life. 60 00:04:12,980 --> 00:04:17,410 I always wonder what religion these people are referring to, since the holiest book of 61 00:04:17,410 --> 00:04:21,280 no religion of which I am aware ever made that claim. 62 00:04:21,280 --> 00:04:23,860 People just made that argument up. 63 00:04:23,860 --> 00:04:29,080 So, if you’re on the proverbial fence on this issue, please ask yourself this question: 64 00:04:29,080 --> 00:04:34,419 Do you really believe that the torturers, rapists, murderers of Dr. William Petit’s 65 00:04:34,420 --> 00:04:39,920 wife and daughters, and evil men like them, deserve to keep their lives? 66 00:04:39,920 --> 00:04:42,820 If you’re like most people, your answer is no. 67 00:04:42,820 --> 00:04:50,000 Your heart, your mind, your whole being cries out for some justice and fairness in this world. 68 00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:54,580 But, if you really do believe these people deserve to keep their lives, 69 00:04:54,580 --> 00:05:00,460 well… as I said at the outset, I don’t understand you. 70 00:05:00,460 --> 00:05:02,260 I’m Dennis Prager.