Virginia Bill to Eliminate Mandatory Minimum Sentences Rankles Law Enforcement
“…frustration among law enforcement officers grows when individuals are released quickly and subsequently re-offend – and even more so if it involved a violent felony.”
Virginia Democrats sure seem hellbent on turning more Virginians into victims, as evidenced, for instance, by Gov. Abigail Spanberger taking action on her very first day in office to end cooperation between the state and ICE on the issue of tracking down criminal illegal immigrants.
“As we write this next chapter, we will focus on the security and safety of all our neighbors. We will take action to prevent gun violence, to support Virginians struggling with addiction, and to address the mental health crisis impacting our kids and our neighbors,” Spanberger said during her inaugural address, as Legal Insurrection previously reported. “And in Virginia, our hard-working, law-abiding immigrant neighbors will know that when we say that we will focus on the security and safety of all of our neighbors, we mean them, too.”
In another soft-on-crime move that has raised eyebrows, a bill has been proposed in the Virginia House of Delegates that would eliminate mandatory minimum sentences for some violent felonies, as we also documented.
The bill’s Democrat sponsor called it a “common-sense proposal”:
“HB 863 is a common-sense proposal that eliminates the requirement for one-size-fits-all minimum sentences for certain crimes,” said Delegate Rae Cousins, who sponsored the bill. “This change would give the experienced judges in our communities more discretion to make decisions based on the unique facts of each case. As the General Assembly session continues, I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass this legislation and promote fairer outcomes in our justice system.”
Virginia democrats crumbled to soft on crime lovers and introduce bill to strike mandatory minimums on a litany of offenses :https://t.co/9pVAlQhBDj pic.twitter.com/2xF35kSPGX
— NOVA Campaigns (@NoVA_Campaigns) January 19, 2026
Former Virginia Attorney Jason Miyares (R) sounded off on the bill on X.
“Democrats in Virginia have introduced a bill to eliminate mandatory minimum sentencing for rape, manslaughter, assaulting a law enforcement officer, possession and distribution of child pornography, and all repeat violent felonies,” he wrote. “So much for ‘restraint.'”
Not surprisingly, the bill has rankled law enforcement, who understand very well that bills like these, if passed and signed into law, will send a message to criminals and repeat offenders that it’s okay to do it again:
“From a law enforcement standpoint, I think police generally want offenders to be held accountable, and frustration among law enforcement officers grows when individuals are released quickly and subsequently re-offend – and even more so if it involved a violent felony,” law enforcement expert Josh Ederheimer told Fox News Digital. I think that also tracks the thinking of many members of the public. I think there is more tolerance for flexibility for minor offenses.
[…]
“For violent felonies, however, the biggest practical concern is that the defendant will re-offend, and that the public is not alerted or aware that the defendant has returned to the community. It’s an accountability concern that falls on the shoulders of judges and prosecutors.”
Yeah. And also, imagine being a victim of a violent crime in Virginia and learning about this. It’s just 50 shades of sick and totally unacceptable. But it’s what the state’s voters face now under Democrat reign.
– Stacey Matthews has also written under the pseudonym “Sister Toldjah” and can be reached via X. –
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Comments
Democrats are determined to destroy the United States.
election have consequences
I couldn’t care less what rankles law enforcement. I care about what rankles productive, law abiding, taxpayers.
When I see how law enforcement folds like a cheap suit when dealing with left wing protesters and hell driving minorities on the highways, it makes me want to puke.
What really rankles law enforcement is any threat to their pension, pay or any hint of a hard day’s work.
We need new civilian leadership that will get them back to doing their jobs. They are not heroes. They are mainly nasty bully boys one step away from being criminals themselves. That is why they require strong men to keep them in line.
One of the more ignorant posts I’ve read on these boards.
No, exceptionally well informed and observant. Since George Floyd the roads have become a battlefield because cops are too chicken shit to pull over minorities unless they are machine gunning people.
why the f is anyone thumbs down and not having the courage to explain why its a thumbs down when the proof is right there!
george mfn floyd will have a holiday or a day of proest /silence etc that some government will enforce
we have lost battle after battle especially at the local levels to blmplo
come on posters dont be posers
So. Who do you call when the SHTF?
Just curious.
The Girl Scouts are more effective,
just b/c we are limited by who we can call//are allowed to call…doesnt negate his pov/post
No one. You take it like the victim Democrats are determined to make you.
Surely not the guys who send a SWAT team to do a “welfare check” on an old man, and end up killing the poor bastard.
thumbs up wrote mostly the same
people are still pretending that law enforcement is on the side of the good people
ahahhaha
So what rank in law enforcement are you?
You mention in a comment below that people who down voted your post were “cowards” for not saying why. Perhaps it is because when you only present simple minded solutions and denigrate people whose job you will not do, maybe they know that trying to argue or even discuss things rationally with you is pointless.
For example, you seem to think that officers don’t pull over people because of decisions they make. You do realize that supervisors (who are not in a union) set the tone, right? Perhaps you have forgotten the Obama / Biden administrations pushing “disparate impact” which forced police to look at the race of someone they pull over. Or perhaps you missed the fact that prosecutors won’t prosecute criminals after cops arrest someone.
A few years ago I had a conversation with an supervisor who said he would not pull people over because prosecutors won’t prosecute, judges won’t convict, and he placed his life on the line every time he pulled someone over. His point was that he was risking his life with no reward.
If you want to say that the police fold like a “cheap suit,” go out and buy better clothing and suit up.
Police are not perfect, but they are not nearly as bad as you want to paint them.
Hey, Bozo. You know what the big bad State Troopers do now in Connecticut because they are too chicken shit to pull over criminals? They pull over soccer moms in all white, wealthy towns for going 45 in 40 mph zones. The cuck press is lauding it as a greatly safety program.
And, what’s your status, big shot? I am a former federal law enforcement agent.
That’s an interesting greeting. Right off the bat you decide a winning strategy is to insult someone. You don’t realize it, but you have already lost the debate because of that.
And you know this how? Have you walked up to a State Trooper and called him “chicken shit?”
It is more likely that the policy decision to pull over or not pull over groups comes from the policy makers. That would be the higher ups in the organization as well as directives from the governor and probably the Attorney General. The point I was trying to make, and you completely missed, was there are other factors other than a law enforcement group being labeled “chicken shit.”
Sitting on boards that negotiate police contracts as well as sitting on Police Review Boards.
Oh. So you were part of the group that botched the January 6th protest? You were part of the group whose communication and organization was terrible? You were part of the group that shot an unarmed woman? You were part of that “chicken shit” group?
How nice.
Before vilifying officers in the street, who do you think is responsible for how they police? It’s their civilian leadership. Lax policing is mostly in blue controlled areas. Those officers by and large want to put criminals away. But policies put in place by politicians and local government, along with ideologically aligned police chiefs, is responsible for the state of policing. While there are bad cops, it’s my experience that most are good cos that are profoundly frustrated by policies in place. They don’t need strong men to keep them in line, we need strong leadership to allow them to conduct their jobs properly and not coddle criminals.
Howard., you must be sitting there, fat, dumb and happy with a nice retirement. Police officers report to the civilian government in their community of employment. The chief is appointed by the mayor or city council. He follows orders or is gone. There may even be state laws he doesn’t like but must follow and enforce those laws. And as chief, he must pass those orders and laws down to the troops. If one doesn’t like it. you may say leave. The chief may have some options but you can count on his replacement as further left or would not be hired. As for the troops, if fairly new on the job there may be opportunities in other departments but most likely involve moving the family to a new city or even another state. If mid career your options are more limited. You are looking at age restrictions for employment. Or maybe a big investment in-the retirement program. Or kids in school or a spouse having to give up a job if you move. Late career or near retirement, if you don’t like things then you sit around and do as little risk if possible because of little opportunity for a new job in the field. The options are limited. Do what the boss says or leave the job you once loved. But politicians face elections. Maybe the next mayor would actually want you to do your job. Now George Floyd was created by politicians. He was a thug who died of his own stupidity. Look at police body cam videos.. Don’t remember if they were shown during trial of police officers. Floyd is standing up. No one is touching him. He just beat back three officers who tried to put him in a police car. He cries out in pain and shouts he can’t breath. No one is touching him. Read the autopsy report. Floyd is suffering from covid, cardiovascular disease and SICKLE CELL SYNDROME. The later is important. Its a disease where the blood cannot carry enough oxygen. Physical exertion or exercise could initiate an attack of Pain and difficulty breathing. Likely actual cause of death. But also add to these medical issues fentanyl, methamphetamine and marijuana. Also note, no bruising or trauma to Floyd’s back, neck or throat which means no long term weight or pressure applied to Floyd. Three police officers convicted in a kangaroo court and no evidence of being responsible for Floyd’s death. So why would a police officer in that environment want to do their job. .
Well, these are the morons people in my home state voted for. Media a nd Dem lying, plus a lame GOPe = Spamburger.
Local law enforcement, not working with ICE has worked very well in Minneapolis. /s
correct
so why did you down the other post(s) that basically agree with this post yet you told e howard that his post was as bad as it gets
why didnt leo say…fu lefty run government we are here to take care of the good people
yet they goose stepped with lefty purse management
Pffft. We’re in different dimensions.
GO PATRIOTS!🏈
AWFUL Abby needs to address the mental health crisis affecting Virginia politicians like herself.
Dhimmi-crats — coddling, whitewashing and enabling the predations of sociopath criminals and terrorists, since Reconstruction.
wow ! a rankled law enforcement
and how does one clear up any rankling??
reminding the pd that they are servants of the current union negotiated contract ran by the friends in power of the purse and that at any moment policing could turn into more social workerings etc etc
rankle that
“and how does one clear up any rankling??”
That’s above my play grade.
At what point do we resort to vigilante justice?
It becomes more apparent with each passing day that crime is overtaking our public safety and the violence will only escalate with increased LEO presence simply because every uniformed officer is now their mortal enemy.
I know, I know…it sounds more lawless than 1840 Texas.
If they can’t identify their enemy the game is over.
thats always the question that decent have to ask b/c it then could throw good people into another category
and as billyjack said
Mr. Posner: We got the law here, Billy Jack.
Billy Jack: When policemen break the law, then there isn’t any law – just a fight for survival.
ok you forced me to do this!!:
Jean: You just can’t keep making your own laws. There’s got to be one set of laws fair for everyone, including you.
Billy Jack: That’s fine. When that set of laws is applied to everyone, then I’ll turn the other cheek too.
Jean: There’s got to be a better way to change those people.
Billy Jack: CHANGE those people? You worked with King, didn’t you?
Jean: Yes!
Billy Jack: Where is he?
Jean: Dead.
Billy Jack: And where’s Bob and Jack Kennedy?
Jean: Dead.
Billy Jack: Not “dead”, their brains blown out! Because YOUR people wouldn’t even put the same controls on their guns as they do on their dogs, their bicycles, their cats, and their automobiles.
ahahahhaaaa
so we already have plenty of gun control laws
yet the laws on criminals being allowed back into society has increased to the point where even the da in baltimore complained and did something about it
baltimore and smelly shole that still is a plantation
vids of people in mn “patrolling” their neighborhoods with rifles saying
we are protecting ours neigborhoods…there was no indication who they are for/against
but there it is
welcome to the obama>>fjb takeover and how trump will be blamed for it all
Who is surprised. Spanberger is a radical and got elected by refusing to comment on anything. Wait till she signs the bill to ban white men from government contracts. That is actually a thing among all the rest.
It also rankles Virginia citizens such as myself that value security. Of course I voted against Spanberger (for Winsome Sears).
I feel like I really did not do enough though. I probably should have followed Democrat precedent and collected votes from my mother, father, grandmother, and grandfather, all of whom are long-time residents of a Virginia cemetary.
yeah its the price we pay for wanting a good life
but lefty is forcing us to confront their violence
What’s the statistic… 10% of criminals commit 90% of the crimes. A Public Safety commission needs to identify and eliminate that 10%, since the government won’t do it. Underground and illegal as hell, it’s the rational response to the situation that has been building for decades.
People seem to have forgotten that mandatory sentences were passed because of ridiculous sentences imposed by judges.
and yet it still continues
communistnazi thugs in robes love their street armies
Not in every jurisdiction though. In many States and individual Counties the voters put reasonable officials into office to keep things sane and their communities safe.
“Not surprisingly, the bill has rankled law enforcement”
Well, you elected a commie… what did you THINK was going to happen?
Just shut up, vote the way your union tells you to, then apply the Vaseline.
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