The precept of abstaining from killing sentient beings should be understood to mean that one should not kill good people. If there are felons who have committed atrocious crimes such as murder and arson, by law these are capital offenses. Should they be exempted from the punishment?
不杀生戒，应不许杀好人，假使有杀人放火，罪大恶极，负有命债的坏人，这种人依法应当抵命，难道这种恶人也不许杀他吗？

Felons who commit murder or other atrocious crimes should be brought to justice for sure, because anyone who violates the law of the state must be punished according to law. This is nothing to do with any personal will. While the judge holds the power to pronounce sentences, he merely acts according to law, it is nothing personal. When Sākyamuni decreed that his followers abstain from taking life of beings he did it in terms of individuals. It was also intended to keep them from breaking the laws of the state. The Buddha never argued that the state should not punish criminals, but always admonished his disciples to abide by laws of the state. Here are two things of different nature, which must not be confused. When referring to the law of causality (hetu-phala), Buddhism often claims that good yields good returns while evil yields bad returns and that any debt of murder should be paid off. This shows that Buddhism does not run counter to temporal laws, but recognizes them. Such a spiritual principle applies to abstention not only from killing sentient beings, but also from covetousness and hatred. As to making wealth for the whole country and do good for the people, it is a great merit for the interest of mankind. However, it would be against the precepts for one to thirst for personal gain or do harm to others to revenge personal grudge. In brief, if everybody conducts himself according to the codes of the Five Precepts and the Ten Good Acts, people would live in peace and health, society would be stable and united, and the nation would prosper and thrive, leading to a world of peace and happiness with high spiritual civilization. This is the goal pursued by popular Buddhism.
对罪大恶极，负有命债的杀人犯，应当绳之以法。这是因为触犯国家法律，应按法律制裁，而不是哪个人要杀他。法官虽有判决权，那是依法判决，不是法官个人的事。释迦牟尼为弟子制戒，不许弟子们杀生害命，这是就个人说的，同时也是为了避免触犯国家法律。佛陀从来没有说过国家法律对坏人的制裁有什么不对，总是教诫弟子遵守所在国的法律的。这是根本不同的两回事，不能混为一谈。佛教讲因果律时常说：善有善报，恶有恶报，杀人一定要偿命。这就说明了佛教是不会违反世间法律的，而是承认世间法律的。不杀生是这样，不贪、不嗔也是这种精神，若是为国家生财，为人民谋利，这是利益众生的事，是大好事。若是为个人贪财，为私人泄忿而害人，那就为戒律所不许。总之，假使人人依照五戒十善的准则行事，那么，人民就会和平康乐，社会就会安定团结，国家就会繁荣昌盛，这样就会出现一种和平安乐的世界，一种具有高度精神文明的世界。这就是人间佛教所要达到的目的。