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SENATORS MEETING EXACTLY THE TWO THIRDS THRESHOLD TO OVERRIDE THE VETO ON A 6-8 VOTE. AFTER A CLOSE BUT SUCCESSFUL VOTE. LONGTIME ACTIVISTS WERE BREATHING A COLLECTIVE SIGH OF RELIEF. >> IT IS A TREMENDOUS STEP FORWARD FOR OUR STATE AND OUR COUNTRY. I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO BIRTH AN ELEPHANT FOR 15 YEARS AND NOW IT IS BIRTHED AND IT FEELS WONDERFUL. >> THIS IS NOT A PARTYLINE VOTE. THERE WERE REPUBLICANS IN FAVOR OF ENDING CAPITAL PUNISHMENT. SOME DEMOCRATS ARE GIVING A REPEAL WOULD UNDERCUT LAW ENFORCEMENT BY REVERSING THE SENTENCE OF THE LOAN DEATH HOPE -- DEATH ROW INMATE, MICHAEL BRIGGS. POLICE SAY THAT THE REPEAL MAKES WORK MORE DANGEROUS ON THE STREET. >> FOR -- IF IT MAKES A CRIMINAL THINK TWICE EVEN ONCE IT SHOULD STAY ON THE BOOKS. >> NOW IT IS OFF THE BOOKS. A CAREER-LONG GOAL FOR THIS STATE REPRESENTATIVE. >> WE TALK ABOUT MOMENTS WHEN HOPE AND HISTORY RHYME AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS. >> GOVERNOR CHRIS SUNUNU RESPONDING TO THE VOTE SAYING I HAVE CONSISTENTLY STOOD WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND VICTIMS OF CRIME IN OPPOSING THE REPEAL BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. I’M INCREDIBLY DISAPPOINTED THAT THE SENATE CHOSE TO OVERRIDE MY VETO. WE ARE LEARNING MORE ABOUT NOW WHAT HAPPENS TO THAT DEATH ROW INMATE. WE GO TO SHAREE SINCLAIR. >> THIS PROSECUTOR EXPRESSED HER FRUSTRATION ON TWITTER. SHE PROSECUTED THE TRIAL AGAINST MICHAEL BRIGGS WHO WAS ACCUSED OF KILLING THAT POLICE OFFICER SHE IS SAYING ON TWITTER THAT MICHAEL BRIGGS THE POLICE KILLER IS THE HAPPIEST ABOUT THE VOTE TODAY. HE WILL GET A PASS BECAUSE HE WAS ALREADY FACING A LIFE SENTENCE FOR THE ARMED ROBBERIES AND DRIVE-BY SHOOTING HE COMMITTED LEADING UP TO THE MURDER SURVEY GETS NO ADDED PUNISHMENT FOR KILLING OFFICER BRIGGS. THE POLICE CHIEF ASSOCIATION SAYS WE ARE VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH TODAY’S VOTE AND WE ARE THANKFUL FOR THE GOVERNOR’S VETO AND WE ARE THANKFUL FOR KEEPING IT IN PLACE. >> THIS IS LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE. THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT SENTENCE AND WE WILL SEE HOW THE COURTS HANDLE THAT ISSUE. >> IN

Advertisement Death penalty officially abolished in New Hampshire NH Senate vote comes week after House voted to override veto Share Shares Copy Link Copy

The death penalty was repealed Thursday in New Hampshire after the state Senate overrode the governor's veto of a repeal bill.A week after the House overrode Gov. Chris Sununu's veto by one vote, the Senate did the same, with senators reaching the two-thirds majority needed on a 16-8 vote.>> Download the FREE WMUR appCheers broke out in the Senate chambers as the vote came in, and longtime activists breathed a collective sigh of relief."It's a tremendous step forward for our state and for our country," said Barbara Keshen, of the New Hampshire Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty. "I feel like we've been trying to birth an elephant for 13 years, and it's birthed, and it feels wonderful.">> Watch: ABC's Dan Abrams discusses NH death penalty abolition The override was not a party-line vote, as some Republicans voted in favor of ending capital punishment."I believe that all life is sacred from the moment of conception until the point of natural death," said Sen. Bob Giuda, R-Warren.Some Democrats argued that repeal of the death penalty would undercut law enforcement by reversing the sentence of New Hampshire's lone death row inmate, Michael Addison, who was sentenced to death for killing Manchester police Officer Michael Briggs."We have to, have to support (law enforcement officers)," said Sen. Lou D'Allesandro, D-Manchester.Police said the repeal of the death penalty will make work more dangerous for officers on the street."If it makes a criminal think twice -- just once -- and saves a police officer's life, we believe the death penalty should stay on the books," said Capt. Patrick Cheetham, of the New Hampshire Police Association.Repealing the death penalty was a career-long goal for Rep. Renny Cushing, D-Hampton."There's a Seamus Haney poem that talks about moments when hope and history rhyme, and for me, this is one of those moments when hope and history rhyme," Cushing said.Sununu expressed his disappointment in a statement released after the Senate's vote."I have consistently stood with law enforcement, families of crime victims, and advocates for justice in opposing a repeal of the death penalty because it is the right thing to do. I am incredibly disappointed that the Senate chose to override my veto," Sununu said.Former state Attorney General and U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte also expressed her disappointment on Twitter after the vote. Ayotte prosecuted the case against Addison."Police killer Michael Addison is the happiest about their vote today," Ayotte said on Twitter.She went on to tell News 9 in a written statement that she expects Addison's sentence to be commuted to life in prison."He will get a pass because he was already facing a life sentence for the armed robberies and drive-by shooting he committed leading up to the murder, so he gets no added punishment for killing Officer Briggs," Ayotte said.Senate Majority Leader Dan Feltes said Addison's final sentence may be decided by the courts, but he is being punished for killing a police officer."So this is definitely life in prison without the possibility of parole. That's a significant sentence, and we'll see, certainly see how the courts handle that specific issue," Feltes said.The New Hampshire Council of Churches and the Diocese of Manchester applauded lawmakers."Catholics in the Diocese of Manchester have been working for decades to repeal the death penalty," said Meredith Cook, of the Diocese of Manchester. "They've been excited for today to be able to move forward."Related video: ABC's Dan Abrams discusses what might happen next for the state's only death row inmate: