If it weren't for that factor, then I wouldn't mind the continuation of capital punishment. If someone were to be killed by, let's say, being torn apart limb by limb while still alive by some crazy-type person, leaving the victim to bleed to death, then I think that the murderer should be killed the same way, instead of some wussy lethal injection. With a lethal injection, it's like they tried putting the old saying, "Do onto others as they do onto you" but rather end up with "Do on to others as they do on to you but in a less grotesque and more swift way yet still getting the same results". Sure, anyone can stare death in the face and laugh, but can they do it while slowly being cut up and stabbed with numerous pointy objects? I think not! I'm sure that the homicide rate will go down by a significant amount if we put a punishment like that into practice. And I'm definately sure that I wouldn't want to receive my punishment if I were to throw someone into a pit of fire ants and leave him to be eaten alive while periodically having salt scattered on their open wounds...*shudder*
I know that such punishment is out of the question, because whenever I think about it actually being put into practice, there's always one question that always crosses my mind... Where the hell do you find an executioner willing to do acts of unspeakable horrors onto another human being?! Sure, the pay will more than likely be a gold mine, but what kind of sicko would actually be so heartless and cruel as to carry out these acts without being completely tramautized or deeply disturbed by it? Other than me, I mean, who would possibly do it?