I'm for the state holding itself to a higher standard than the criminals and for recognizing if there is any doubt whatsoever about the conviction, the death penalty cannot be applied.
I'm certainly not for making a public spectacle of executions.
What standard do the criminals use? Many of the so called "hardened criminals" aren't reformable, they don't care what society or the world thinks about them. They do what they want or what they can get away with because to them, it's all about power. On the outside, power is all that matters to them, be it alone or in a gang, he who has the power, rules. If they can't be rehabilitated, they are no use to society. My thoughts are, why are we, the taxpayers, paying to feed and clothe and house them? They can't be released into society without them doing harm to said society.....why are we even bothering to keep them alive?
Dunno how Kalifornia's statues read, but IIRC, most states don't say "beyond any doubt".....it's something similiar, but usually what I remember is beyond a "reasonable" doubt. Meaning that we as humans are not perfect and we do make mistakes, but given the evidence presented, we are
sure beyond a reasonable doubt that this person is guilty or NOT guilty (depending on the verdict reached).
Public executions...........I used to be like you, thought it would be gruesome, not something that the public should see.
Now I think bringing back public hangings and the like might be part of the answer. Not the whole answer, but part of it.