Why are people so quick to support the death sentence without considering the ramifications?

You are right absolutely! FYI, death sentence or capital punishment has been abolished in law and/or practice by 128 countries worldwide. During 2005, 2,148 people were executed including 94 in Iran, 86 in Saudi Arabia and 60 in the USA. Scientifically it has been found that capital punishment does not deter murder or other henious crimes to a greater extent than supposedly other lesser punishment like life imprisonment (ref. UN report 1988). What matters is the threath of punishment. The same concept applies to nukes - the threath of global destruction. Unfortunately there are now rogue countries and terrorist groups who have the capabilities of developing and using "dirty bombs" taking the concern for nuke deterrent and safety to new levels.