There continues to be much discussion these days about the death penalty and Scott Peterson and I cannot understand the thinking of those in favor of it. Certainly if the death penalty is meant to be a deterrent to killing, it is not considering the ten or more years before it is ever carried out, if at all. Also, it is really a cop out. It is supposed to be the ultimate punishment but it is really the easy way out. So the state executes someone. End of story. His life, his suffering is over. If, on the other hand, the prisoner had been given life without the possibility of parole, he will have a long time to think about what he did and in the case of Scott Peterson, his killing of his unborn child will attract the worst of the worst in the prison system and he may not live too long anyway. How or why does the family of a murder victim feel better if the killer is executed. It certainly does not bring the victim back to life. Since this is one of the few countries still executing people you don't suppose the other countries know something we don't?