…. that this is such an obvious answer, that it shouldn’t even be up for debate.  If you asked these supposedly intelligent people, “Why don’t you steal?” Or, “… cheat on your spouse.” Or any such thing, they would not want to get caught. 

Does Death Penalty Save Lives? A New Debate – New York Times

Criminals want to minimize their risks just like everyone else.  They
watch for cameras.  They watch for police.  They break into homes where
nobody is at home.  They prey on the weak.  They do these things to
minimize their risk of getting caught, hurt, killed.

If that doesn’t tell you that they weigh the risk/benefit ratio, there
is something wrong with your thought processes.  If you raise the
risks, you reduce the benefit to them. 

The problem with the status quo is that you don’t see the reduction in murders/crimes because there is not a prominent enough death penalty in place.  It’s really very simple. 

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