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.”
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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