Gov. Sununu vetoes death penalty repeal bill
Veto made despite veto-proof margins in Legislature
Veto made despite veto-proof margins in Legislature
Veto made despite veto-proof margins in Legislature
A showdown in the New Hampshire Legislature is coming after the governor vetoed a bill Friday to repeal the state's death penalty.
Gov. Chris Sununu called the repeal an injustice as he signed the veto in a building named after Manchester police Officer Michael Briggs, who was killed in the line of duty in 2006. The man convicted of killing Briggs, Michael Addison, is New Hampshire's only death row inmate.
The governor was flanked by members of law enforcement departments and surrounded by Briggs' family members.
"To have them here means the world, and I hope it sends a clear message to the state just how important this is," Sununu said.
The last time an execution was carried out in the state was 1939. Supporters of the death penalty said that's proof that in New Hampshire, it is used only when appropriate.
"This law is reserved for the worst heinous people that commit the worst crimes against our people in the state," state police Col. Christopher Wagner said.
With Briggs' widow standing behind him, Sununu vetoed the bill, which passed the House and Senate with enough votes to override the veto.
The governor said he hopes that before the Legislature meets to hold the override vote, legislators reconsider their position.
"I think the legislative votes taken that supported overturning the death penalty were extremely short-sighted and did not take into consideration law enforcement, the victims, families and where we may be in the future," he said.
But lawmakers said it's unlikely opinions in the Legislature will change.
"I think people have given this a lot of thought," said Rep. Renny Cushing, D-Hampton. "I think this is not a policy that's susceptible to political winds of the day. People made an examination of their conscience and voted their conscience, and I think that conscience will continue to hold."
"I do think legislators, even though they're influenced by others, are going to hold to their positions that they took, and I think we will be able to override," said Senate President Donna Soucy.
A group gathered Thursday at the State House to try to convince the governor to change his mind and let the bill become law. The group said capital punishment is costly and runs the risk of killing innocent people.