11 February 2010 :

2 death-penalty bills won approval by overwhelming margins today in the House of Delegates. HB502, sponsored by Del. Todd Gilbert, R-Woodstock, would repeal the state's "triggerman rule," which provides that only the actual perpetrator of a capital murder is eligible for the death penalty. Gilbert's bill would make accomplices eligible as well if it is proven they had the same intent to kill as the actual murderer, or if they ordered or directed the slaying. Gilbert noted that under existing Virginia law, such figures as Osama bin Laden and Charles Manson could not have been put to death. The bill cleared the Republican-controlled chamber on a 72-24 vote. The 2nd measure, HB166, sponsored by Del. Brenda Pogge, R-Yorktown, would expand the death penalty to cover the killers of auxiliary law-enforcement officers, emergency medical services personnel, fire marshals and assistant fire marshals while on the job. This bill passed 75-23. The 2 bills won preliminary approval by overwhelming margins yesterday in the House of Delegates. Under the Kaine administration, bills to scrap the rule repeatedly passed both the House and Senate only to be vetoed by the governor, who is personally opposed to expanding capital punishment in Virginia. Former Gov. Tim Kaine vetoed the bill for 3 years. Gov. Bob McDonnell, a Republican who took office last month, is expected to sign the legislation into law if it reaches his desk. Governor McDonnell is a former local prosecutor and state attorney general. Virginia has put to death 105 people since 1976, when the Supreme Court ruled reinstated the death penalty, making the commonwealth 2nd only to Texas in executions. Both measures will now go to the Senate.