New Hampshire to abolish the death penalty

New Hampshire to abolish the death penalty.The Senate, evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats, voted 14 to 10, after an emotional hourlong debate, to approve a bill repealing the state's death penalty. The state House of Representatives had voted the bill in March by a 28-vote margin (191-163). Although New Hampshire became the first state in over 20 years to vote to repeal the death penalty, the legislation was vetoed by Governor Jeanne Shaheen. The bill recommended by the Judiciary Committee would have eliminate executions as a sentencing option and replace it with life in prison without parole. The last execution in New Hampshire took place in 1939; there are no outstanding death sentences. (see New Hampshire)