Virginia lawmakers vote to make state first in South to abolish death penalty
Virginia state lawmakers on Monday approved legislation that would...
Posted: Feb 22, 2021 2:32 PM
Posted By: CNN
Virginia state lawmakers on Monday approved legislation that would abolish the death penalty in the state, moving the Old Dominion one step closer to becoming the first southern state to outlaw the practice.
The bill -- HB 2263 -- now heads to Gov. Ralph Northam's desk for final approval. The Democratic governor has previously signaled he intends to sign the legislation into law and called the death penalty "inequitable, ineffective, and inhumane" in a joint statement following the bill's passage.