It was reported that Virginia lawmakers voted on Monday to abolish death penalty in Virginia. The legislation according to the report has been sent to Governor Ralph Northam (Democrat) who announced that he will sign the legislation into law. This is a turnaround for a state that has executed more people in its history than any other state. Virginia will be the 23rd state to abolish death penalty in the United States. The Virginia’s Assembly which is dominated by the Democrats argued that the death penalty was not applied fairly, that it was applied mainly to people of color, the mentally ill and the indigent. The Republicans in the House raised concerns about justice for victims and their family members, stating that some crimes are so heinous that the perpetrators deserve to be executed. If abolished, the law will convert the sentences of the only two inmates (Anthony Juniper and Thomas Porter) on Virginia’s death row to life in prison without parole.
Source: Viewers Corner News.