RICHMOND – The Virginia House of Delegates has advanced a bill that would make a broader range of criminals eligible for the death penalty.
House Bill 389, proposed by Delegate Todd Gilbert, R-Woodstock, would redefine the “triggerman” rule in murder cases. The term “triggerman” refers strictly to the direct perpetrators of homicide, according to the current state law.
Delegate Robert Bell, R-Charlottesville, said the goal of the bill is to make accomplices to the “triggerman” just as eligible for the capital punishment.
“We believe that in some circumstances, someone other than the triggerman is every bit as culpable for the murder as the person who pulled the trigger, and therefore, it should be an option for juries,” Bell said.
He had introduced an identical measure, HB 954. It was incorporated into HB 389.
On Tuesday, the House voted 72-28 for the bill. Eight Democrats, 63 Republicans and one independent voted for the legislation; four Republicans and 24 Democrats voted against it.
The group Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty questions the need for legislation like HB 389. Steve Northup, executive director of VADP, said the state law is already broad enough to incorporate those who assist the “triggerman” in a murder.
“The word ‘triggerman’ is actually a misnomer,” Northup said. “For example, if there are two guys, and one guy holds the victim down while the other guy shoots the victim, they can both be prosecuted for capital murder …
“If you believe in capital punishment, then you believe it ought to be available for the worst of the crimes committed by the most dangerous people. It’s already broad enough to handle that.”
Since the resumption of capital punishment in 1976, Virginia has had more executions than any state except Texas.
Northup said his main concern is that the bill could increase the use of an irreversible punishment for a crime.
“Everybody knows that the criminal justice system makes mistakes,” Northup said. “We, from time-to-time, convict innocent people … If you convict an innocent person, sentence him to death and execute him, you can’t go back later and say, ‘Oh sorry we made a mistake.’ ”
Sen. Mark Obenshain, R-Harrisonburg, also offered a proposal to redefine the “triggerman” rule – Senate Bill 58. However, it was killed last week in the Senate Courts of Justice Committee.
The committee voted 7-7 along party lines, with Sen. Bill Stanley, R-Franklin County, abstaining.
As HB 389 now moves to the Senate, Northup hopes it will suffer the same fate there as SB 58.
But Bell remains optimistic about the bill’s passage in the Senate.
“We are hopeful that with the changes in the Senate and governor’s mansion, we can get this passed this year,” he said.
Modifying the “triggerman” rule, he said, would allow courts to determine “whether individual defendants on a case-by-case basis deserve the ultimate punishment for their actions.”
According to these GOP clowns, Jesus would be packing a concealed weapon, executing criminals like Paul Kersey, hating gays, and subjecting women to humiliation. Oh yeah, and Jesus is a big supporter of tax cuts for the rich. It is repeated in the Bible several times.
The only silver lining from observing these idiots is that maybe more than 40% of the electorate will sacrifice 15 minutes of their day next fall to vote.
Nice. Lets open up the death penalty to child molesters as well.
For the record: I did not vote for these dolts…if you did not vote, shame on you and you now have no right to complain…next election cannot come fast enough!
Great now the state can waste far more time and money executing more people; just want we need.
Let Va take care of the criminals or soon it’ll be PG or SE here in Va. Wait til the Metro gets to Tysons Corner and beyond…Crook Central. Look at what happened to Springfield Mall. No crime = opportunity for good jobs, good schools, etc., Crime = no jobs, lousy schools, etc.,,,,
Hey Red Wolf, don’t forget gums for gunnecks. Nothing for crumbling crowed roads. Nothing for screwed up schools outside of Northern virginia. Nothing for small business owners. No tax relief. Kill criminals. Let’s see what woman have in their wombs. Give the gunnecks their guns, hunting on the Lord’s day too. And don’t forget tax breaks for the wealthy. Middle class taking it in the shorts, but, nothing for them, unless they want o hunt on Sundays or carry a gun to Starbucks. The Commonwealth of retards
First vaginas, then teachers, now killing people. How does this create jobs? Gop=bait and switch.
Gary also has guns strapped to his ears, wrists, and knees, and ankles. Gives new meaning to weight-lifting. Love your lucky charms, indeed.
Seriously, someone argues that the death penalty is not immoral?
“wouldn’t hesitate to shoot some dumb punks face off if he even looked at me funny”
I sincerely hope that your post is meant to be be a joke…otherwise you would be very scary indeed
All I know is this: if anyone wants to put me in a life or death situation you better believe that I’m gonna walk away alive because I carry concealed. I’m properly trained and registered and wouldn’t hesitate to shoot some dumb punks face off if he even looked at me funny. I might use the gun on my hip or maybe the gun on my ankle, I just don’t know - I carry both at all times, just in case. I retain th right to defend my life or my family by using my guns. Nothing bad hadls ever happened to me because I’m always armed and guns can solve all sorts of problems. The other day I thought I was running late for work but because I had my guns with me I was able to catch all green lights and make it on time. I went to the dentist to get a cavity filled. It when I got there the dentist said the tooth had filled itself - all because of guns. My mother had breast cancer. It was given a clean bill of health because I told that cancer I own many guns and that cancer decided to leave town before I shot it in it’s face. Guns save lives. So does baby Jesus. I love my guns and I love my God. God is great. Guns, too. Guns, guns, guns!
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