Virginia senate committee endorses death penalty expansion

Posted to: General Assembly News Virginia
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The Associated Press
© January 21, 2009

RICHMOND

A Senate committee has endorsed legislation to expand the death penalty, but the true test will be whether it can get enough votes in the full Senate to override a veto by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine.

The Senate Courts Committee on Wednesday advanced one bill to expand the death penalty to murder accomplices and another to allow it for those who kill a fire marshal or his assistant while on the job.

For the past two years Kaine has vetoed expansion of Virginia's "triggerman rule," which reserves capital punishment for the person who actually does the killing. While the House had enough votes to overturn the veto, the Senate came up short both years.

Virginia has executed more inmates than any state except Texas since capital punishment was reinstated in 1976.

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chesdem.........

Submitted by JockamoRasputin on Wed, 01/21/2009 at 10:01 pm.

It also says "An eye for an eye............

Another View.

Submitted by JockamoRasputin on Wed, 01/21/2009 at 9:59 pm.

Just read the story about the Murderer that just escaped from Prison. Now the wife and family of the Father he Brutally Stabbed to Death is scared,(they should be). I must say that when the anti-Death Penalty crowd gives the "put em away for life instead of capital punishment argument", this type of scenerio should be considered.