Governor Glenn Youngkin indicated to local media on Friday that Virginia Republicans will reintroduce a bill to charge fentanyl dealers and distributors with murder if their drugs result in a lethal overdose. Virginia Democrats successfully defeated the legislation in February.
Youngkin told 7 News on Friday, “if you’re a drug dealer and you do drugs and someone dies, you should be charged with felony homicide.” He stressed to the outlet, “[w]e cannot coddle drug dealers.”
The governor was referencing legislation first introduced in January that would have declared anyone who knowingly distributes or sells 2 milligrams or more of fentanyl without their knowledge would be guilty of first-degree murder by poison. The bill also would have made selling or distributing fentanyl a first-degree murder if its use resulted in the death of the purchaser.
First-degree murder is a Class 2 felony in Virginia, and compels a prison sentence of 20 years to life if convicted.
Democrats defeated the legislation in February after opponents expressed concerns that the new criminal penalties for fentanyl distribution could discourage Virginians from calling for emergency services in the event of a fentanyl overdose.
The governor made the remarks following comments from Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares (R) and State Senate Majority Leader-elect Scott Surovell (D), who both suggested to the outlet that a bipartisan compromise could be possible for the purpose of addressing fentanyl overdoses in Virginia.
Miyares acknowledged the issue is “going to be closely divided as it was previously,” but suggested there was “real opportunity” to pass the legislation. Surovell said the parties “can find some agreement” on the fentanyl and opioid crisis, but noted Democrats and Republicans “disagree about some of the solutions.”
He told 7 News that Democrats would be willing to offer more funding, but were leery about tougher criminal penalties.
While that legislation failed, the Virginia General Assembly successfully passed a separate bill declaring “any mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl” a “weapon of terrorism,” and anyone who “knowingly and intentionally” manufactures such substances guilty of a Class 4 felony charge that carries a sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000. Youngkin signed it into law in March.
The Chief Medical Examiner in Virginia revealed in October that fentanyl was involved in 75 percent of all fatal overdoses in 2022, and it was not tied to just drug users seeking fentanyl. The agency revealed that the number of fatal cocaine-related overdoses jumped by 22 percent in 2022, and that more than 80 percent of fatal cocaine overdoses included fentanyl.
In the report, the agency suggested the drug overdose numbers for 2023 are expected to be similar to 2021, reported WDBJ 7.
Though Youngkin will now need support from Democrats in the Virginia General Assembly in addition to his own party, the governor’s allies in the House of Delegates secured reelection to positions in party leadership following Republican party of Virginia’s electoral defeats on November 7.
– – –
Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Georgia Star News, The Virginia Star, and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Fentanyl Powder and Pills” by Metro Nashville PD.
