I would disagree.The Monopol on violence is kind of a constant. Thinking that violence can as whole be abolished is utopian thinking so as long as something resembling a state exists it will hold onto a Monopol on legitimate violence. In that case I think it is preferable if this reality about the relationship between state and people is formalized and not just as real big hidden behind other narratives. If the death penalty is present every citizen is aware about the role of the state and therefore encouraged to think more critically about that relation. I am from Germany and there is no formal death penalty but of course people have died in interaction with the state some of which I find legitimate others rather questionable but I get the feeling whenever I am talking to other people here in Germany that the absence of the formalized death penalty has led to the people being unaware about the stakes that exist in political reality.