You seem not to understand what a punishment is. A punishment is inflicted in order to encourage a positive change in the object. This is not achieved in annihilation or damnation, so it should not be defined as a punishment. Both are acts of slothful or wrathful dismissal of the wicked.

So the human "death penalty" is not a punishment?

I think it comes down to how you define punishment, and though I believe punishment is SOMETIMES inflicted "in order to encourage a positive change in the object", that is NOT ALWAYS the case. How practical would our legal system be if we only ever punished those who might possibly undergo a positive change as a result of that punishment. If change happens, great, but, at the most basic level, the punishment is needed because a crime has been committed and justice has to be served.

From an online dictionary definition of punishment:

1. the act of punishing.
2. the fact of being punished, as for an offense or fault.
3. a penalty inflicted for an offense, fault, etc.
4. severe handling or treatment.

There is no mention of a required redemptive outcome to the punishment.

Blessings,
Rainboy