Hide Transcript Show Transcript

VERY EMOTIONAL ISSUE. SURROUNDED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS AT A YOUTH CENTER NAMED FOR SLAIN MANCHESTER POLICE OFFICER MICHAEL BRIGGS, GOVERNOR CHRIS SUNUNU KEPT HIS PROMISE TO VETO A BILL THA WOULD REPEAL NEW HAMPSHIRE'S DEATH PENALTY LAW. >> THIS BILL IS AN INJUSTICE. NOT JUST TO OFFICER BRIGGS AND HIS FAMILY BUT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND TO OTHER VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIME ACROSS THE STATE. ANDY: MEMBERS OF THE BRIGG’S FAMILY WERE ALSO ON HAND. MICHAEL ADDISON, THE MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDERING BRIGGS IN 2006, IS THE STATE’S ONLY DEATH ROW INMAT WHILE ACTION ON THIS BILL IS NOT SUPPOSED TO AFFECT HIS CASE, THAT MAY ULTIMATELY BE A QUESTION FOR THE COURTS. GOVERNOR SUNUNU SAID THE STATE’S NARROW USED OF THIS LAW PROV ITS VALUE AND CRITICIZED LEGISLATORS WHO VOTED FOR REPEAL. >> IT WAS SHORTSIGHTED. I THINK THAT’S AN APPROPRIATE WORD. I THINK THE LEGISLATIVE VOTE TAKEN THAT SUPPORTED OVERTURNING THE DEATH PENALTY WAS EXTREMELY SHORTSIGHTED AND DID NOT TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION LAW ENFORCEMENT AND VICTIM FAMILIES AND WHERE WE MAY BE IN THE FUTURE. ANDY: BUT THE BILL PASSED WITH VETO PROOF MAJORITIES IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE. AND WHILE THE GOVERNOR WILL NOW WORK TO CHANGE SOME MINDS, LAWMAKERS BELIEVE POSITIONS ARE UNLIKELY TO BUDGE. >> I THINK PEOPLE HAVE GIVEN THIS A LOT OF THOUGHT. 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 INFLUENCED BY OTHERS ARE GOING TO HOLD TO THEIR POSITIO THAT THEY TOOK, AND I THINK WE WILL BE ABLE TO OVERRIDE. ANDY: SENATOR SOUCY SAYS THAT IT’S LIKELY THE HOUSE AND SENATE WILL BOTH VOTE ON THE OVERRIDE IN ABOUT TWO WEE

Advertisement Gov. Sununu vetoes death penalty repeal bill Veto made despite veto-proof margins in Legislature Share Shares Copy Link Copy

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.>> Download the FREE WMUR appThe 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.