The Death Penalty.

Differences Between the Left and Conservatives Part II

The Death Penalty.

For the left, no one should be put to death regardless of the crime or motivation; opposition to the death penalty is rooted in ethical and humanitarian principles. Although the left generally opposes capital punishment, the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson by Luigi Mangione was celebrated by some on the left. Mangione, driven by anger toward the health insurance industry, was seen by some as a hero fighting against a system widely perceived as greedy and unjust—especially in a country where millions lack access to basic healthcare.

Conservatives, by contrast, view the death penalty as a just and necessary punishment for crimes of extreme severity—such as mass murder, the killing of children, and other horrific atrocities. However, many cherish Christian values, including the commandment “thou shalt not kill,” which at first glance appears to conflict with support for the death penalty. But, Hebrew scholars clarify that the original commandment is more accurately translated as “thou shalt not murder,” a distinction some conservatives use to justify capital punishment for certain crimes. Though the left generally opposes this stance—calling it hypocritical—and argues that no crime justifies state-sanctioned killing, it too faces tension when far-left rhetoric leans toward glorifying revolutionary violence as a means to achieve social change.

This complex interplay of religious, ethical, and political principles underscores the ongoing struggle to define justice in a divided society.