New Hampshire Becomes 21st State to Abolish Death Penalty – Should More States Follow?

What’s the story?

• New Hampshire has become the final New England state to eliminate the death penalty, after the Senate voted on Thursday to override Republican Gov. Chris Sununu’s earlier veto.
• As of today, 21 states have banned capital punishment.

What are people saying?

Gov. Sununu vetoed a bill last year that would have abolished the death penalty, but Granite State lawmakers passed another measure this year with enough support to withstand a veto.

Supporters of capital punishment

• Sununu wrote in his veto message that “New Hampshire has always shown prudence and responsibility in its application of the death penalty.”
• Shortly after the Senate overrode his veto Thursday, Sununu wrote:

 “I have consistently stood with law enforcement, families of crime victims, and advocates for justice in opposing a repeal of the death penalty because it is the right thing to do,” he said. “I am incredibly disappointed that the Senate chose to override my veto.”

Opponents of capital punishment

• State Sen. Bob Giuda (R), an avowed pro-lifer, called an execution a “ghastly sight” in arguing why he planned to vote against the governor.
• “I think we’re better than that,” he said, as reported by the Washington Post. “I think our state moving forward needs to transcend that issue.”

"Now it's up to us to stop this practice that is archaic, costly, discriminatory and final," said Sen. Melanie Levesque (D-Brookline).

What do you think?

Should more states abolish the death penalty? Or should more vote to expand its use? Take action and tell your reps, then share your thoughts below.

—Josh Herman

(Photo Credit: iStock / powerofforever)