Senators Debate on Death Penalty Before the Public Votes

Nebraska State Senators Colby Coash and Beau McCoy debated the death penalty on Tuesday, Oct. 25 in the Centennial Room of the Nebraska Union as a part of the Sorensen Seminar Series, sponsored by the Public Policy Center. The Center for Civic Engagement, the Department of Political Science, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the College of Journalism and Mass Communications co-sponsored the event.

A Nebraska student participates by asking a question.
A Nebraska student participates in the death penalty debate by asking a question.

The on-campus debate gave students the opportunity to learn more about both sides of the local death penalty debate without leaving campus.

“I have an opportunity at my own school to listen to a debate. Why not take it?” said freshman Tyler Zinsmaster. “I’ve never seen our state politicians talk before.”

Zinsmaster, like Sen. Colby Coash, was supportive of continuing the repeal of the death penalty.

Freshman Taya Klein attended the debate to strengthen her belief that the death penalty should be reinstated in Nebraska, a belief also held by Sen. Beau McCoy.

“I’m just excited to see what both sides have to say and see if my opinion is a strong one,” said Klein. “I want to hear the other side to be sure in what I believe.”

Fred Knapp, reporter and producer for Nebraska Educational Telecommunications (NET) public radio moderated the debate between the two senators. Knapp began the debate on what he called a “historic question” with a brief history of the death penalty in Nebraska.

After the history, each senator gave a brief speech defending his opinion before taking questions from the audience. The questions asked the senators to discuss the wording on the ballot, taxpayer money allocations, justice for victims’ families and the death penalty’s role as a crime deterrent.

Despite the controversy behind the death penalty and differing opinions from the senators, the debate remained cordial and respectful. In the end, both senators encouraged students and community members to vote on Nov. 8 to voice their opinion.

Community Engagement