Both the Bible and the US Constitution clearly allow for capital punishment. Saying that either does not, as some do, is simply not true. As for documented mistakes, I'm pretty sure you have to go back quite some time to find them.
The foundation of American law in a Constitutional democracy is that it is better that 10 guilty people go free than one innocent person serves in prison. This is why there exists the assumption of innocence until guilt is proven. What is a good time line for the innocent to die or even evidence that would suggest doubt towards guilt? Twenty years? Thirty...forty...or how about just seven years ago?
That is why we keep putting stone killers back on the street to kill again if all the i's are not dotted and the t's crossed. No human endeavor is without flaws. Should there be a higher standard for the death penalty? Certainly! But, expecting perfection in anything we do is unreasonable. That includes the death penalty. The standard is "Beyond a reasonable doubt" not "Absolute Certainty beyond even the most outrageous claim of a nutcase activist." Funny how we can accept the death of young soldiers, traffic deaths due to stupidity, medical errors and "choice," but the execution of very bad people who ruthlessly murder others in cold blood can only be allowed if there is 100% certainty beyond even the most fanciful doubt.
We all like to think of ourselves as rugged individualists. But when push comes to shove most of us are sheep who do what we are told. Worst of all, a lot of us become unpaid agents of whoever is controlling the agenda by enforcing the current dogma on the few rugged individualists who actually exist.
