Virginia Vetoes

Virginia Vetoes
By Kevin Mahoney

This week, Virginia State governor, Timothy M. Kaine, vetoed five bills that would have increased the different variations of crime punishable by death in the state. The bills would have greatly expanded the crimes that are punished with capitol punishment, such as murder of judges or witnesses that would influence a judicial outcome. Mr. Kaine, a Democrat, not only opposed those suggestions, but is opposed to the death penalty all together. Kaine wants to reduce the number of criminals who are subjected to capitol punishment, Virginia being only second to Texas for the state with the most number of executions carried out. The Republican dominated General assembly passed five measures with votes to override the vetoes.
Texas is the number one state that exercises capital punishment, first becoming legal in 1819. Since 1819, roughly 1100 people have been legally executed. Texas has exercised multiple variations of capital punishment, from hanging and firing squad to lethal injection and electrocution. Texas has been the most lenient state with utilizing capital punishment as a form of penalty, applying it to cases of treason, piracy, desertion, rape and murder. Currently, he only reason for capital punishment is Texas is for murder with a “malicious aforethought.” In the last twenty years Texas has accounted for one third of the countries executions.


http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/27/us/27brfs-death.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/27/us/27brfs-death.html