Lenin is that you or has your account been hijacked? I'm appalled at your words and really disappointed as I thought of you as someone with a good measured stance on most things political.
'And if we just automatically forgave everyone who does anything wrong, there'd be no incentive for them not to do it, would there?'
Absolutely there would. I don't think you are understanding my point. It's about personal responsibility - and of course, protecting society from someone capable of these crimes, so imprisonment for the foreseeable, yes by all means. Punishment? Revenge? What's that about? That road gets you NOwhere.
That's how wars begin. and how they perpetuate. Insanity.
An incentive not to commit horrific crimes would be your own sense of self respect and the love and respect of other people.
A law which actively encourages revenge - well I can see how these countries are so bloody volatile. They have not learned, have they.