Well, folks, Delaware has officially bid farewell to the death penalty. Earlier this year, Governor John Carney signed House Bill 70, officially wiping capital punishment off the state’s law books. This move comes eight years after the Delaware Supreme Court found the practice unconstitutional in 2016.

As an independent Christian conservative, I can’t help but feel caught in the middle of a moral, legal, and practical crossroads. On one side, there’s the biblical principle of “an eye for an eye” (Exodus 21:24), which has long been cited as a scriptural basis for capital punishment. On the other, the sanctity of life—a cornerstone of Christian values—and the New Testament’s emphasis on mercy and forgiveness weigh heavily on my heart.

The death penalty has always been a hot-button issue. Supporters argue it serves as a deterrent to heinous crimes, while critics highlight the risk of wrongful convictions and its disproportionate impact on marginalized groups. Delaware’s death penalty, however, has been in limbo since 2016, when the state Supreme Court struck it down over concerns about judges, rather than juries, having too much say in sentencing—a decision that paved the way for its formal repeal.

House Bill 70, championed by Rep. Sherry Dorsey Walker, replaces the death penalty with life imprisonment without parole for first-degree murder convictions. The bill passed comfortably in both the House (33-8) and the Senate (14-7), signaling a significant shift in the legislature’s attitude on this issue.

From a conservative perspective, government’s primary duty is to protect its citizens and uphold justice. Capital punishment has historically been seen as an appropriate tool to carry out this responsibility. Yet valid concerns exist—irreversible errors and unequal application of the death penalty undermine confidence in its fairness. These challenges should not, however, lead us to abandon the practice entirely but rather push us to refine and improve it.

The irreversible nature of the death penalty makes wrongful convictions a particularly grave miscarriage of justice. While courts rightly demand proof beyond a reasonable doubt for convictions, the stakes for capital punishment should require an even higher standard—absolute certainty. After all, you can’t un-execute someone.

As for its uneven application, it’s undeniable that disparities based on race, gender, or socioeconomic status erode public trust in justice. But this is not a reason to throw out the death penalty altogether. Instead, reforms should ensure that capital punishment is applied fairly and impartially, reflecting the blindfolded lady of justice we so often revere.

Delaware’s repeal of the death penalty is part of a larger cultural conversation. As Christians, we must weigh justice and mercy carefully, guided by Scripture and a commitment to truth. There’s room for debate on how to best administer capital punishment, but abandoning it altogether is not the answer. With rigorous safeguards and a renewed commitment to fairness, justice can be served without sacrificing the innocent or allowing crime to go unanswered.