Wild footage out of the U.K. shows a police officer commandeering a civilian’s bike in order to track down and tackle a drug dealer who was in possession of a stash of drugs disguised as candy. However, the focus now shifts to the Virginia Senate committee’s recent decision to narrowly defeat legislation that would have expanded the circumstances in which a drug dealer could be charged with felony homicide in connection with a user’s death. The bill, strongly supported by Gov. Glenn Youngkin and fellow Republicans, aimed to serve as a deterrent to criminals and save lives amidst the rising tide of overdose deaths, particularly those linked to fentanyl.
The Democratic members on the committee who voted against the bill expressed skepticism that stiffer penalties, rather than an approach focused on substance abuse treatment, would effectively address the root causes of the issue. Senate Democratic Leader Scott Surovell, who heads the committee, questioned the effectiveness of adopting a 90s-style approach to tackling the problem. The bill sought to overrule a 2014 Court of Appeals decision that placed limitations on the distance and time between a dealer and a user’s death for felony homicide charges to apply.
Supporters of the bill argued that if a dealer sold drugs to an individual and left the scene, resulting in the purchaser’s death, the dealer should still be held accountable. However, opponents argued that existing drug distribution charges already carry tough penalties and can be used to punish offenders. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Virginia cautioned that the proposed measure could discourage reporting or seeking help in overdose situations due to fear of punishment. Despite emotional testimony from individuals who have lost loved ones to drug overdoses, the bill was defeated by a vote of 8-7, with only one Democrat voting in favor.
Surovell, while expressing sympathy for the victims’ families, communicated with Gov. Youngkin that a better approach would be to allocate more resources to catching those responsible for drug distribution. He also emphasized the importance of investing in mental health to reduce the demand for drugs. The committee did, however, advance a separate measure to create a task force focused on combatting fentanyl, heroin, and other controlled substances, albeit with provisions similar to the defeated bill removed.
This is not the first time Virginia lawmakers have grappled with this issue. Similar measures were defeated in the past, with former Governor Ralph Northam vetoing a similar bill in 2019. Gov. Youngkin has made addressing drug overdoses a priority during his tenure, and his spokesman expressed disappointment that most Democrat legislators once again failed to support measures aimed at protecting victims’ families.
While the defeat of the bill in the Senate committee is a setback for supporters, there is still hope that it may find a path forward in the Democrat-controlled House of Delegates, where similar legislation has yet to be heard. If the House advances the measure, it would still require Senate approval before reaching Gov. Youngkin’s desk.
In a time when drug overdose deaths are on the rise, the decision on this bill highlights the ongoing debate on how best to address the issue and hold drug dealers accountable for their role in these tragic deaths.
