Whoever quoted my phrase, I'd disagree with your little story, not because it's wrong, but because I don't think it holds any weight on this discussion. That's a religious story, true or not, and since it involves God, and since God is questionable, I'll won't give you my opinion on that.
My cousin has been in jail three times now, 2-3 years each time. He enjoys it, to be honest, strangly enough. Jail isn't as bad as they make it seem. They try to make it sound bad to make people want to stay out, but for people who have actually been there, it's sometimes better than the real world. As mentioned, you get three free meals, you get to earn money in which you can buy certain things within the prisons, you get cable tv, regular shows, workouts to keep you in shape, the company of others, no matter how good or bad that part may be, education, access to libraries and the internet, and so on. It's a better life than some of the people out there have, unfortunately.
I've heard of people getting true educations there, for free, since they couldn't get them in college, and then when their time is up, or their case is proven not guilty, they get out, still retaining this free education payed for by us.
Someone said that if they are in prison, they can't kill anyone else? Well, that's partly true, but remember, people do escape, and people are let out, and people do kill others WHILE IN PRISON. Think of that. They are still a potential threat, no matter how subdued they may be for the time being. To kill them, as punishment, not revenge, would rid us of that potential threat.
I am for capital punishment, if proven beyond the shadow of a doubt as guilty.
Life in prison is not enough, in my opinion.
