It is with good reason that the majority of people in the United States favor capital punishment.  Strong belief in the death penalty likely stems from religious beliefs or deeply held personal convictions about fairness.  The belief that punishment must fit the crime comes naturally to most people, and is a basic tenant of Judeo-Christian ethics.  "An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth," is found in scriptures (Matthew 5:38).

    Upon conviction in a lawful, fair trial execution of murderers is a statement by society that the crime of the murderer will not be tolerated.  It is believed and hoped by many that such a statement sends a message to society that acts as a deterrent to the crime.  It could be argued if a murderer is spared the death penalty, that society is placing a higher value on the life of the murderer than in the life of the victims.  That is a message most do not wish to send (Carmical).

    If a murderer is sentenced to life in prison rather than death, what does this really mean?  In the United States, this likely means a life in a facility with air-conditioning, cable TV, recreational equipment, a library, free medical care, three meals a day, a bed to sleep in, and regular visits with friends and family, all at taxpayer expense.  In these circumstances, the murderer ends up much better off than the victim or the victim's family.  This violates most people's sense of justice.  Finally, considering the fact that the taxpayers include the victim's family makes the sentence of life imprisonment an insult to law-abiding society.  Another problem with the sentence of life in prison is the necessity for members of the vistim's family to have to periodically appear before or write letters to a parole board if they want to try to prevent the criminal from being released from prison.  This forces these innocent people to relive the horror of their loss time and time again (Carmical).

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