With state Senate vote, Virginia moves closer to abolishing death penalty Laura Vozzella, Gregory S. Schneider RICHMOND Virginia s Senate voted Wednesday in favor of abolishing the death penalty as a similar bill advanced in the House, putting the onetime capital of the Confederacy on track to become the first Southern state to eliminate capital punishment. All 21 Senate Democrats voted for the ban after nearly two hours of sometimes emotional debate, with 17 Republicans opposed and one abstaining. Sen. Scott A. Surovell (D-Fairfax), who sponsored the abolition bill, said an estimated 1 in 10 people sentenced to death nationally had been wrongly convicted. “I cannot think of anything that’s more awful, unspeakable and wrong for a government to do than to use its power to execute somebody who didn’t commit the crime they’re accused of,” said Surovell, who also noted that the punishment has been disproportionately applied to racial minorities and
Virginia Senate passes death penalty abolition bill - Medicine Hat NewsMedicine Hat News
medicinehatnews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from medicinehatnews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Virginia Senate passes death penalty abolition bill
thetelegraph.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from thetelegraph.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.