Nebraska Senator Chambers Pushes for Death Penalty Repeal

Reporter: Associated Press

A state lawmaker who fought for years to abolish the death penalty in Nebraska is trying again.

Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha introduced a repeal measure on
Wednesday, the final day for lawmakers to submit bills.

Chambers is an outspoken death-penalty opponent who has repeatedly tried to repeal the practice. He returned to the Legislature after a four-year hiatus imposed by term limits.

His measure would replace the death penalty with a sentence of life without the possibility of parole. In the bill, Chambers rails against the death penalty as a failure that has harmed the state's reputation for fairness, decency and the dignity of human life.

The bill is co-sponsored by Sen. Colby Coash, of Lincoln.