The death penalty in New Hampshire approved by the State Senate: NPR

New Hampshire is on the verge of becoming the 21st state to abolish the death penalty.

The state Senate voted 17-6 on Thursday to end the death penalty, adding its voice to the House of Deputies who voted for the repeal of the vote last month by a vote of 279- 88. The bill amends the sentence for mandatory murder into mandatory life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

Republican governor Chris Sununu threatened veto. But with more than two-thirds of votes in both houses, the legislator could override the veto, making New Hampshire the last state in New England to repeal the death penalty.

"As I grew older, I realized that we were all on death row and that it was only a matter of time before our names were called," said Republican Senator Harold French. , who voted for the repeal. "When my name is called, I will present myself before the Lord with a huge basket full of regrets and misdeeds, as you will, but I tell you what will not be in this basket of misdeeds. He did not turn a deaf ear to those who came and took the time to talk to us to get rid of the death penalty, "he said, according to the Associated Press.

There is currently a man on New Hampshire's death row and he may not benefit from this measure. The repeal bill will not apply retroactively to Michael K. Addison, who was convicted of the murder of Manchester police officer, Michael Briggs, in 2006.

But proponents of capital punishment worry that once the state abolishes the death penalty, the judicial system will be reluctant to apply it to Addison. "The day this will pass and be signed, Mr. Addison's sentence will be converted to life imprisonment," said Senator Sharon Carson, according to the AP.

As reported by New Hampshire Public Radio, Briggs' widow, Laura, has opposed the pressure to abolish the death penalty. "It's not an eye for an eye or revenge," she said. "It is about protecting our society from evil people who are doing wrong."

New Hampshire was last executed 80 years ago. In 1939, Howard Long was hanged after molesting four children and killing two children, including a 10-year-old boy.

State legislators have voted in favor of repealing the death penalty twice in this century – once in 2000 and once in 2018 – but the governor vetoed the project of law, reported the New York Times. Last year, the Senate of the State did not meet the 16 votes necessary to override the veto. This time the Senate has the numbers.

"Governor Sununu continues to stand alongside victims of crime, law enforcement and justice advocates to oppose the repeal of the sentence of death, "said his office in a statement, published in the Washington Post.

Once the bill is signed by the Speaker of the House, the Speaker of the Senate and the Secretary of State, Governor Sununu will have five working days to veto the bill, sign it or let it become law without signature, reports the union leader.