Growing Support Against the Death Penalty in Nebraska

from CNN

"The Nebraska legislature has passed a bill to repeal the state's death penalty and replace it with life without parole. The measure, which passed Wednesday on a 32-15 vote, faces a promised veto from Gov. Pete Ricketts." However... "State Sen. Ernie Chambers, the bill's sponsor and a member of the New Alliance Party, said he's confident supporters can muster the 30 votes necessary to override a veto." (The bill had passed by 32 votes.) Nebraska is one of 32 states that impose the death penalty, according to the Death Penalty Information Center, although executions have been rare. If the Nebraska legislature over rides the governor's veto, it will make Nebraska the 19^th state to repeal the death penalty, the 7^th since 2007.

Sources:

• "Nebraska lawmakers vote to repeal death penalty, veto expected," CNN May 21, 2015

• "We can live without the Death Penalty," Amnesty International blog, May 20, 2015

• "Amnesty International USA Responds to Passage of Nebraska Death Penalty Repeal Bill," Amnesty International USA, May 20, 2015