The death penalty has always been one of the most controversial forms of punishment, as some people think that it is too harsh, while others believe that it is the most justifiable punishment in the context. After years of being a red state, now that the state legislature is mostly left-leaning, Virginia is becoming the first southern state to end the death penalty.

The death penalty has commonly been used when an individual commits an extremely heinous crime, to the point where it warrants death. However, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam believes that capital punishment is too harsh and believes in other options. 

“It’s important that we shut down the machinery of death here in Virginia,” said Northam. 

Northam and other Democrats want to quickly abolish the death penalty after the Trump Administration used their power to execute 13 people. Republicans are against this as they believe the death penalty is warranted on people who commit evil, heinous crimes. 

“These are savage crimes,” said Republican Senator Mark Obenshain. He was describing a 2017 case where a man invaded a home and murdered a family.

Democratic officials believe differently, referring to the 113 executions that took place after the Supreme Court restored the death penalty in 1976. Virginia had the second-highest number of executions after Texas’s 576. Due to Democrats’ efforts, there have been no executions since 2017 as they rapidly move forward to abolish the law. 

The death penalty will likely be removed, as current president Joe Biden strongly supports abolishing capital punishment. Biden believes in preventing crime and reforming the criminal justice system for it to be fairer towards specific minorities. Previously Virginia would be a swing state, but in the most recent elections, it has reliably been blue. Democrats believe that Trump’s decisions in his four-year term have actually damaged the Republican party’s relations in Virginia.

Northam relied on the help of other Democratic senators in order to get the bill passed, all of whom believe that the death penalty is too harsh. One of these senators actually supported using the electric chair in the past but has now changed his stance to be against capital punishment.

“He’s changed his position, I think it took bravery for him to do that,” said Northam. 

After the governor signs the final bill, Virginia will be the 23rd state to finally end capital punishment. 

Photo courtesy of NYTIMES.COM