Governor vetoes death penalty abolishment; override likely

Gov. Chris Sununu vetoed a bill to repeal New Hampshire’s death penalty for a second time Friday, though lawmakers are likely to override his decision in the fall.

Sununu, a Republican, vetoed the bill in Manchester, the state’s largest city, surrounded by police officers and other law enforcement officials at a community center named in honor of Officer Michael Briggs, who was shot to death in the line of duty in 2006.

“This is common sense,” Sununu said. “New Hampshire has always exercised great prudence, great responsibility in its application of the death penalty. I firmly see, along with many folks across the state, this bill is an injustice not just to Officer Briggs and his family, but to law enforcement and other victims of violent crime across the state.”

New Hampshire’s death penalty applies in only seven scenarios: the killing of an on-duty law enforcement officer or judge, murder for hire, murder during a rape, certain drug offenses, or home invasion and murder by someone already serving a life sentence without parole.

Read more: https://www.concordmonitor.com/Governor-vetoes-death-penalty-abolishment-25303100