Have you ever heard someone say, “what if it was your child?” in a discussion about the death penalty?

Let’s examine that sentiment…

As a parent it’s your moral duty to protect your child’s life, right?

What if your child committed a crime that would result in a death penalty, and you knew where the only witness lived? Is it now your moral duty to silence that witness permanently?

Would it, on the other hand, be moral if you killed that witness if you child only risked a long prison sentence?