USA - Virginia. The House of Delegates has advanced a bill that would expand the death penalty

The Virginia House of Delegates has advanced 72-28 a bill that would make a broader range of criminals eligible for the death penalty. House Bill 389, proposed by Delegate Todd Gilbert, R-Woodstock, would redefine the “triggerman” rule in murder cases. The term “triggerman” refers strictly to the direct perpetrators of homicide, according to the current state law. The goal of the bill is to make accomplices to the “triggerman” just as eligible for the capital punishment. Sen. Mark Obenshain, R-Harrisonburg, also offered a proposal to redefine the “triggerman” rule – Senate Bill 58. However, it was killed 7-7 last week in the Senate Courts of Justice Committee. As HB 389 now moves to the Senate, it could suffer the same fate there as SB 58.