: Many believed that if the state refused to impose the punishment a criminal "deserved," it would lead to anarchy or vigilante justice.
: Supporters argued that some crimes are so severe that anything less than death fails to provide justice. This "lex talionis" (an eye for an eye) approach suggests that a murderer has "volunteered" for the risk of death by committing their crime. Death Sentence - Retribution (1986)
In 1986, retribution was the primary moral justification for the death penalty. While the debate often touched on deterrence, proponents argued that the "ultimate punishment" was a necessary, just response to heinous crimes, regardless of whether it prevented future ones. Retribution as Moral Justification : Many believed that if the state refused
Proponents viewed the death penalty as —a punishment earned by the offender's actions. In 1986, retribution was the primary moral justification