Virginia Republicans introduced their high legislative priorities for the brand new yr, with curbing fentanyl deaths chief amongst them.
Underneath present case regulation, it’s tough to cost a drug supplier with the homicide of a consumer who died from fentanyl they’d bought until they’re within the proximity of that supplier, in accordance with GOP legislators.
State Senate Minority Chief Ryan McDougle, R-New Kent, instructed Fox Information Digital on Tuesday that Virginia hopes to handle that legislative insufficiency.
“This [law] would say for those who promote the medication, it would not matter for those who’re in bodily proximity,” he mentioned.
Round $4 million value of fentanyl was seized by the LAPD. (LAPD)
McDougle and Senate Republican Caucus Chief Mark Obenshain are spearheading the trouble.
Fox Information Digital reached out to Obenshain, of Harrisonburg, for added remark.
Nonetheless, at a related press conference, Obenshain mentioned that so long as persons are “dying in each nook of Virginia, of each socioeconomic background, meaning there’s individuals on the market peddling this poison.”
A pair of Senate particular elections on Tuesday have been set to find out whether or not Republicans will take a barely belated majority within the chamber this time period, as Democrats at present management it by one seat.
Voters went to the polls in each Loudoun County and a swath of extra pink counties, together with Buckingham, Fluvanna and Goochland.
On Wednesday, a number of retailers projected Democrats will maintain their slim single-seat majority – requiring one liberal to facet with McDougle and Obenshain on their counter-fentanyl proposal.
In 2022, the Outdated Dominion ranked 14th amongst states for complete fentanyl-related deaths, with 1,973 fatalities, and was positioned close to the nationwide common when it comes to dying price per capita, in accordance with CDC information.
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For comparability, neighboring West Virginia leads the nation in fentanyl deaths per capita, however complete deaths have been 1,084, lower than Virginia.
Seven out of 10 drugs seized by the DEA comprise a deadly dose of fentanyl, in accordance with OnePillCanKill Virginia.
A consultant for Gov. Glenn Youngkin mentioned he believes prosecuting fentanyl sellers ought to obtain bipartisan assist:
“As Governor Youngkin has mentioned time and time once more, any one that knowingly and deliberately distributes fentanyl must be charged and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the regulation,” spokesman Christian Martinez instructed Fox Information Digital.
“We can’t proceed to let makers and sellers get away with homicide – and it’s time Democrat lawmakers facet with victims’ households over fentanyl makers and sellers.”
In April, Youngkin signed Obenshain’s prior fentanyl-related invoice, SB 469, which made illegal possession, buy or sale of encapsulating machines for the aim of manufacturing illicit medication a Class 6 felony.
It additionally imposed felony penalties for topics who enable a minor or mentally incapacitated individual to be current throughout the manufacture of any substance containing fentanyl.
Virginia Lawyer Common Jason Miyares beforehand mentioned a median of 5 individuals die every day from fentanyl overdoses all through the state.
“By enhancing penalties and criminalizing the possession and use of machines to provide counterfeit medication, we’re supplying regulation enforcement personnel with the instruments they should maintain drug sellers accountable for poisoning our communities,” Miyares mentioned.
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Virginia Sen. Ryan McDougle, R-Hanover/New Kent. (senate.virginia.gov)
After her husband signed the 2023 laws, Virginia first woman Suzanne Youngkin mentioned there may be “nothing extra essential” than defending households and communities in Virginia. “I applaud all individuals working laborious to struggle the unfold of this illicit drug taking the lives of far too many Virginians,” she mentioned.
Virginia Republicans additionally indicated this week that they’ll work to place Youngkin’s December plan curbing taxation of gratuities into regulation. The plan considerably mirrors President-elect Donald Trump’s “No Tax on Suggestions” marketing campaign pledge.
“Arduous-working Virginians should maintain the ideas they earn for his or her service,” McDougle mentioned. “Governor Youngkin’s inclusion of this coverage within the price range is a vital step in our assist of hard-working Virginians, and we’re proud to introduce the invoice to place it within the Code of Virginia.”
McDougle mentioned Tuesday the chamber may even pursue a ban on transgender girls competing in girls’s and women’ sports activities.
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