WEBVTT AMOUNTS TO A CLOSING ARGUMENT DIRECTED AT GOVERNOR CHRIS SUNUNU TO CONVINCE HIM THEY’RE FOCUSING ON LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE COSTS OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT. ALL THEY NEED IS THE GOVERNOR’S SIGNATURE -- OR HIS WILLINGNESS TO WITHHOLD A VETO -- AND A BILL PASSED BY THE LEGISLATURE REPEALING THE DEATH PENALTY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE WILL BECOME LAW. REP. O’LEARY: ONE OF THE MOST OFTEN-CITED CLAIMS ABOUT THE DEATH PENALTY IS IT DETERS MURDERERS, AND IT THEREFORE MAKES US SAFER. OVER 200 STUDIES TO DATE FAIL TO SUPPORT THIS CLAIM ADAM: A GROUP OF RETIRED POLICE AND CORRECTIONS OFFICIALS SAY CONSTRUCTING A DEATH CHAMBER IN NEW HAMPSHIRE COULD COST MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, ON TOP OF THE MILLIONS ALREADY SPENT IN COURT. AND FORMER ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF CORRECTIONS BILL MCGONAGLE SAYS LETHAL INJECTIONS DON’T ALWAYS GO AS PLANNED. MR. MCGONAGLE: GO TO YOUTUBE AND JUST PUT A SEARCH IN FOR BOTCHED EXECUTIONS IN THE UNITED STATE JUST WATCH ONE, AND YOU’LL BE CONVINCED THAT THIS IS NOT A HUMANE THING THAT WE DO. ADAM: REPEAL ADVOCATES SAY THE RESOURCES PUT TOWARD EXECUTIONS WOULD BE BETTER SPENT ON TAKING CARE OF POLICE OFFICERS ON THE JOB. MR. LUTZ: THE PSYCHOLOGICAL THREATS TO THE LIVES OF THOSE ENGAGED IN THIS FIELD ARE FAR GREATER THAN WHAT IS POSED BY AN ARMED CRIMINAL. ADAM: THEY’VE ALREADY WON THE DEBATE IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE. THEIR AIM NOW IS TO CONVINCE A GOVERNOR, WHO HAS SHOWN NO INDICATION OF WAVERING ON THIS ISSUE. OF COURSE ONE OF THE KEY PARTS OF THIS DEBATE IS WHETHER REPEAL WOULD CAUSE THE DEATH SENTENCE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE’S LONE DEATH ROW INMATE, MICHAEL ADDISON, TO BE CONVERTED TO LIFE IN PRISON. OPPONENTS OF THE BILL SAY IN EVERY OTHER STATE THAT’S TAKEN THIS STEP, ALL EXECUTIONS HAVE BEEN HALTED, AND THEY EXPECT THE SAME TO HAPPEN HERE. WE SPOKE WITH GOVERNOR SUNUNU’S OFFICE THIS AFTERNOON, AND HIS POSITION HAS NOT CHANG