C3PX said:

But, telling my hesitations to take a hike, I do find it interesting that, in general not specifically here, it seems the very sort who strongly oppose the death penalty for, say, serial rapist and murderers, are often the very sort who are quick to say that we'd be better off if guys like Fred Phelps, or various other "Christian bigots" or "hate mongers" were to be executed.

Just to be clear:

1) I do not oppose the death penalty for serial rapists and murders in theory. The problem I have is that once an execution is carried out, it's too late to discover that the executed person was actually innocent. But this isn't my way of saying I'm opposed to the death penalty in actual practice - I'm very conflicted on the subject.

2) I think Fred Phelps and his elk* have every right to spew their hate, and I would not try to take it away from them. While I think the world would be better off without them, I don't even want them arrested or barred from protesting, let alone executed. It is their right to protest and I support that. But they are still a bunch of anuses who deserve to get Rick Rolled.