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| Nebraska state senator Ernie Chambers. |
Cheers erupted and tears fell Wednesday as the Nebraska Legislature took the historic step of repealing the death penalty with a politically high-stakes override of the governor’s veto.
Even as repeal supporters exchanged handshakes and hugs in the legislative chamber, a key defender of capital punishment vowed to keep the broader debate alive. Sen. Beau McCoy of Omaha announced plans to pursue a petition drive to put reinstatement of the death penalty on the ballot.
In the most suspenseful decision to play out in Nebraska’s one-house Legislature in years, lawmakers voted 30-19 to override Gov. Pete Ricketts’ veto of Legislative Bill 268. Without a vote to spare, the override replaced lethal injection with life in prison.
This is an especially impressive achievement since Nebraska is a red state. And it is all thanks to one man.
The outcome elicited a nod and a grin from the typically stoic Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha, who has tried for four decades to repeal the death penalty. As the controversial senator walked through the glass doors leading into the Capitol Rotunda, he was feted with chants of “Ernie! Ernie! Ernie!”
Ernie Chambers has tried and failed to repeal the death penalty 37 times before. This time he was successful.
Also worth noting is that Ernie Chambers is the highest ranking, openly atheist elected official in the country.
Chambers has also introduced a bill to get churches to pay taxes, defended the rights of the LGBT community, and once claimed that the Mafia had higher standards than the Catholic church because if their members were raping children they would "off them."
So to be clear, an Atheist, who doesn't believe in a higher authority, worked diligently for years on a pro-life bill that was finally passed just this year.
And they say that non-believers lack a sense of morality.
(H/T to The Friendly Atheist.)
The Death Penalty is barbaric. It's just a form of blood lust that we should be beyond at this point, especially at an institutional level.
ReplyDeleteVery proud to have Ernie Chambers has a fellow Omahan. The man is a legend in my eyes!
ReplyDeleteHe tried to introduce same sex marriage legislation before Massachusetts even had it. He wears jeans and a t-shirt to the Capitol building. He doesn't mind bucking the system.
They had to amend our constitution to add term limits to keep him from being elected and sitting out a few years. Conservatives revile him and I love it.
I was thrilled when Gov Ricketts (one of the few Palin picks that actually won) veto was overridden and the death penalty was abolished. Mr Chambers has been trying to do this for DECADES
Do you know what Ernie Chambers done when the unicameral is not in session? He runs a barber shop
Like I said, the man is a legend!!
Remember a few years ago when Ernie sued God - wanted God to prove he was real by having to show up in court. Christian heads were exploding all over the state!!
DeleteThank God for atheists!
ReplyDeleteWhat a guy! Can we clone him?
ReplyDeleteI'm against the death penalty, but, honestly, some cases have caused me to start to doubt my decision. Jodi Arias, Treyvon Martin and a slew of slaughtered innocents. Then I read that in a few states, they're cutting back on the expensive drug cocktail, and experimenting on the accused and convicted with cheaper drugs. There's nothing humane in being tortured when the state can't cough up enough money. And two wrongs don't make a right. I'd rather them live and grow a conscience while incarcerated. I find it rather strange that after the fact, they find Jesus in jail, when their life is on the line. There's no proof that it deters crime.
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing immoral about the death penalty. What is immoral is how it is applied in the US. When justice is replaced with agenda then injustice abounds. It is for that reason I oppose the death penalty. Our legal system is geared more toward wealth, position, and power than righteousness and truth. Murderers, rapists, traitors, pedophiles, and war mongers deserve the death penalty, but sadly these criminals run the U.S. and have for a long time. It is the poor and powerless who are the typical scape goats of this immoral system.
ReplyDeleteThe post doesn't name the vague "they" who say that "non-believers lack a sense of morality." I'm guessing "they" comprise small but perhaps vocal fringe fundamentalist groups, not worth worrying about.
ReplyDeleteI'm a Catholic convert, brought up Presbyterian, and an agnostic/Unitarian Universalist for a couple of decades before my conversion late in life. These faith communities are not preoccupied with the morals of non-believers. They have work to do, feeding the hungry, caring for the sick, and promoting social justice in general. In any case, there aren't many absolute non-believers, and the most visible among them seem well-intended, with a few exceptions.
Most of the deadly atheist regimes are history. North Korea may be an exception, but some atheists shakily suggest it's actually a theocracy, as the masses are forced to worship their leaders.
There is a large and powerful Catholic contingent fighting the death penalty. It's part of the pro-life culture. When many people hear pro-life, they think only of opposition to abortion. That's just one piece of the pro-life tenets of Catholicism.
Pope Francis, Pope Benedict, Pope John Paul XXIII all spoke and wrote frequently and vehemently in opposition to the death penalty. Ditto the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The Catechism defines a very strict standard for administration of the death penalty. In summary, it's to be used only when there is absolutely no other means of protecting society.
Some of the most indomitable women on earth are Catholic nuns, who are in the trenches fighting the death penalty. The most famous is Sister Helen Prejean, author of "Dead Man Walking." She is only one of many.
Anonymous at 9:06 AM summed up all we really need to say about the death penalty. It's barbaric. If you travel the globe, you will meet citizens of countries great and small who are amazed that the mighty USA still engages in this violent and counterproductive practice. We should support every legislator who opposes this vengeful (and ineffectual) punishment, without regard to religion or lack thereof.