Nebraska has abolished the death penalty in a landmark veto-override vote backed by a coalition of conservatives who oppose capital punishment.Senators in the one-house Legislature voted 30-19 on Wednesday to override Gov. Pete Ricketts, a Republican who supports the death penalty. The vote makes Nebraska the first traditionally conservative state to eliminate the punishment since North Dakota in 1973.Video: Nebraska repeals death penaltyNebraska joins 18 other states and Washington, D.C., in banning the ultimate punishment.Some senators say they philosophically support the death penalty but are convinced the state will never carry out another execution because of legal hurdles. Nebraska hasn't executed an inmate since a 1997 electrocution.The bill was introduced by independent Sen. Ernie Chambers, who has fought for four decades to repeal the death penalty.Stacy Anderson, Executive Director of Nebraskans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, offered the following statement:"This overwhelming, bipartisan vote demonstrates again the change in thinking that has taken place on the death penalty over the last few years. Lawmakers and Nebraska residents recognize the realities of an error-prone system that risks executing innocent people and harms murder victim family members. The active leadership of conservative republican legislators in supporting death penalty repeal here in Nebraska reflects a similar sea change I've noticed across the country. Conservatives like me want to see policies that are fiscally responsible, limit the size and scope of government, and value life. The death penalty fails on all counts. During this legislative session, diverse groups of Nebraskans came to the State Capitol to call for repeal of the state's death penalty. They included family members of murder victims, faith leaders, a member of the Beatrice Six who was coerced into confessing for a crime she did not commit in order to avoid the death penalty, and experts on wrongful convictions. The Archbishop of Omaha called for repeal this morning at a press conference in Omaha. Today's vote represents strong momentum for repeal across the state. The trend is clear, conservatives and all Americans are moving away from the death penalty, and Nebraska is leading the way."The ACLU issued the following statement:"Today marks a remarkable and historic victory for our state. We are grateful for the dynamic leadership of policymakers, and we are proud to be part of an incredibly diverse coalition led by faith leaders, fiscal conservatives, and victim's families."Ricketts issued the following statement:"My words cannot express how appalled I am that we have lost a critical tool to protect law enforcement and Nebraska families. While the Legislature has lost touch with the citizens of Nebraska, I will continue to stand with Nebraskans and law enforcement on this important issue."The Nebraska Catholic Bishops issued the following statement:"The Catholic bishops of Nebraska commend the Nebraska Legislature for voting, definitively, to repeal the death penalty in our state. We recognize many men and women of good will on both sides of this debate. May all Nebraskans continue working together for peace, justice, safety, and the common good. We encourage all people to pray for our civic leaders, for police officers and first responders, for the victims of violent crimes and their families, and for the incarcerated. May the peace of Jesus Christ reign in our hearts, our communities, and in our state."Gallup has been tracking American's opinions about the death penalty and whether or not it's morally acceptable. In 2001, 63 percent of those surveyed supported the idea, but when asked against in May 2015, only 60 percent of Americans said they think the death penalty is acceptable.