New Hampshire lawmakers override governor veto to abolish death penalty

New Hampshire lawmakers on Thursday voted to outlaw the death penalty in the Granite State, overriding a veto of a bill by Gov. Chris Sununu (R).

The new law, which takes effect immediately, means that capital punishment will be repealed throughout New England.

Veto overrides require a two-thirds majority, which the state Senate accomplished with its 16-8 vote on Thursday, according to The Associated Press. The state House voted to override the veto last week.

Sununu vetoed the bill repealing the death penalty earlier this month.

New Hampshire has not executed any inmates since 1939 and only has one inmate currently on death row, Michael Addison, who killed Officer Michael Briggs of the Manchester Police Department in 2006.

The law does not apply retroactively to Briggs, but opponents of the measure have argued courts could interpret it to spare his life. The state has no facility for executions.