It saddens me to see our society defend lives by taking them and teach killing is wrong by killing.

Although most people I know are for the death penalty I am against it.

American Justice is not perfect: The death penalty is biased against the poor and African American’s who cannot afford adequate legal representation. Few white-collar killers sit on death row and fewer are ever executed. DNA testing shows we have made fatal mistakes. There is no indication that the death penalty deters murders and there is evidence that violence makes a society more violent. America is only one of a handful of countries that still uses the death penalty.

It saddens me to see our society defend lives by taking them and teach killing is wrong by killing. The death penalty goes against Jesus’ teachings of unconditional love. Jesus said, "Judge not," and "He without sin cast the first stone." Who has the right to judge another, let alone kill them? Who is pure enough to cast the first stone?

I think we need to separate a person from their actions—to love them and judge their behavior. The death penalty cannot make this distinction.

I think the real struggle is between justice and compassion. A society needs both. Justice is a human ideal: It is a rational decision like a computer result. Justice is conditional; "these are the rules these are the consequences." Compassion on the other hand comes from the heart. It is divine and requires maturity, understanding, empathy, kindness, ability to forgive, and above all—unconditional love.

In my opinion the death penalty is about revenge—it is the Old Testament’s "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" which Jesus opposed. Human life is a gift from God that is not ours to take away. Ending the death penalty is not about politics but faith. Death is not evil—it is the inevitable surrender of our physical body and another step in our journey and faith.

However, consequences for actions are important: criminals should be required to earn a living (like the rest of us) while serving time in prison. Most of us would loose our food, shelter, possessions, social services and healthcare if we chose not to work. Why should criminals be exempt?

My twenty years as a mental health counselor made me a believer in rehabilitation. There is bad in the best of us and good in the worst of us and with help most of us have the potential to transform ourselves. Our society has not begun to explore our power to help criminals change their lives.

Also, for me the death penalty is the easy way out. I fear loss of freedom, sickness, pain or a less than quality life more than death.

The issue of the death penalty reminds me of a story: Moses has walked back up Mt. Sinai with the Ten Commandments in hand.

"God," he says, "The, Ten Commandments are good. However, we have some difficulty with the "Thou shalt not kill" commandment: I think we need an amendment.

"Why, Moses," God replies, "I think it's pretty succinct. I don't think I can get it clearer than that."

"But, God," Moses continues, "What about the issues of abortion, mercy killings, suicide, war and the death penalty? Not to mention all the animals we kill to eat or for research.

And God, may I suggest you write the amendments on a portion of the Los Angeles freeway."