Life is the most wonderful gift that God gives man. He also gives mankind the power to do what one wishes with that life. One can keep it and guard it or one can take it away. It follows that murder is the worst crime anyone could ever commit. It is a crime that no one can ever make right. Once a life is taken away it can never be given back. Penalties exacted from criminals are made to fit the crimes committed. The worst crime possible should therefore receive the worst penalty possible. That penalty is the death penalty.
             Take, for example, the case of a man who is caught shoplifting. He does not deserve the same punishment as someone who is convicted of assault and battery. Most people would have no problem agreeing with this. Yet many of these same people believe that a cold-blooded killer deserves the same life sentence as a convicted kidnapper who did not kill his prisoner. Granted these are both serious offenses, but society's system of law works by degrees of seriousness (Bedau 326). The mental damage done to that prisoner can be turned around, but the life taken away by the murderer can never be given back. The murderer should therefore, be given a harsher punishment than life in prison. In terms of justice, one should get what one deserves. One argument against the death penalty is that the bible tells man not to murder. If this includes all people, it should include the government. However, the death penalty is not quite the same as murder. It is an exacting of justice. Consequently, !
             the Bible also says, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. It could also say a life for a life as well. It also states in the Bible that "...Christ's statement that those who kill by the sword are subject to die by the sword (Matthew 26:51-52)." Meaning that if one kill's and take's a life, they should be killed and their life taken from them as well. The government also has rights that citizens do not have....