Nebraska Lawmakers Vote to Abolish Death Penalty in the State

With a 32-15 vote, lawmakers in Nebraska voted to repeal the use of the death penalty in the state. Even though Gov. Pete Ricketts has said that he will veto their measure, which would replace death sentences with life prison terms, the legislature likely has enough support to override his veto. There are currently 11 men on death row in Nebraska, though the state hasn’t executed an inmate since 1997. The repeal would prevent state officials from being able to carry out their death sentences. One of the lawmakers who has been a leader in getting the death penalty abolished in his state, Omaha’s Sen. Ernie Chambers, told Omaha.com, “We got the state out of the killing business today” …