Nebraska Governor Vetoes Law to End Death Penalty

Legislation aimed at repealing the death penalty in the US state of Nebraska has been vetoed, Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts stated in a press conference on Tuesday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — On Wednesday, the Nebraska state legislature overwhelmingly passed the LB-268 bill to repeal the death penalty.

“We don’t want to send the message to criminals that we are soft on crime. And with that, I will sign the veto letter.”

Ricketts said the death penalty is about justice and safety for Nebraska’s law enforcement officials.

“We are here today to emphasize how important the death penalty is to the public. We only have ten inmates on death row, use it [death penalty] judiciously, and therefore, need to sustain it.”

The Nebraska Governor concluded it is important for the state’s senators to stand with him despite the fact the overwhelming number of Nebraska residents support the death penalty.

Also on Wednesday, US advocacy group Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty National Advocacy Coordinator Marc Hyden told Sputnik the group is cautiously optimistic the death penalty might finally be repealed permanently in Nebraska.

The Nebraska legislature’s override vote to overturn Ricketts’ veto could come as early as Wednesday, according to Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty.