If your child committed murder, would you take the rap?

Accidentally, or intentionally, my friend says that he would take the rap for any crime committed by his son. He would go to prison and even face the death penalty if necessary.

I told him that I would not go to prison for my son, but I would accept the death penalty in his place. I feel, as his father, that one of my responsibilities is to allow my child to face the responsibilities of his own actions. He would not otherwise be capable of learning and growing emotionally. Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time.

My friend says that in all cases, that he would choose to take the responsibility for his son’s mistakes, and likewise endure any punishment to prevent his son from suffering unnecessarily. If he raised the child, then he is ultimately responsible for the choices of the child.

I told him that some suffering is absolutely necessary, and without a certain degree of personal suffering, that much greater suffering would ultimately be endured by many others.

We found no reconciliation in our different views. What says you?