Nebraska would become the 18th state in the United States to abolish the death penalty under a bill introduced by Senator Ernie Chambers of Omaha.
The Legislature’s Judiciary Committee heard testimony March 13 on LB 543. The bill would get rid of the death penalty in the state and replace it with life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
Several people representing a diverse array of religious institutions, civil liberties and inmate advocacy groups and attorneys organizations testified in favor of the bill. Jim Cunningham of the Nebraska Catholic Bishops Conference says we must reject a culture of death and embrace a culture of life.
Attorneys Don Kleine and Joe Kelly testified against the bill.
Contact Joseph Moore at nns.jmoore@gmail.com