Virginia Senate Democrats voted to block SB 746, choosing to protect drug dealers from felony homicide charges.
Richmond, VA – In a stunning display of misplaced priorities, Virginia Senate Democrats today voted unanimously to oppose SB 746, legislation that would have held drug dealers accountable when their illicit actions directly lead to the death of another person. SB 746, which classifies the unlawful distribution or manufacturing of Schedule I or II drugs resulting in death as felony homicide, is a common-sense measure to combat the deadly fentanyl crisis and give law enforcement the tools they need to prosecute those fueling this epidemic. Unsurprisingly, Democrat nominee for governor Abigail Spanberger stands in silence as her liberal allies in the General Assembly put drug dealers ahead of justice for victims and their families.
“Treating criminals like criminals is common sense –– unless, apparently, you’re a Democrat in the Virginia state Senate,” said Press Secretary Peyton Vogel. “Their failure to give law enforcement and their partners in the justice system the tools they need to prosecute drug dealers who callously steal innocent lives should frighten every Virginian at the prospect of Abigail Spanberger winning the governor’s race and bringing Democrats’ liberal agenda to life. The people of Virginia deserve leaders who will fight to keep them safe, not legislators who side with criminals.”
Senate Republican Leader Ryan McDougal condemned the vote, emphasizing that public safety should never be a partisan issue.
“Virginia families are losing loved ones every day to fentanyl, yet Democrats have chosen to protect the criminals and drug dealers rather than deliver justice for victims,” said McDougal. “That’s just plain wrong. The stakes could not be higher, and we will not stop fighting to enact tough-on-crime policies that hold criminals accountable and protect our communities from the monsters that fuel this deadly epidemic.”
Law enforcement officials across Virginia have been sounding the alarm on the rise in fentanyl-related deaths and the urgent need for stronger penalties against dealers knowingly distributing lethal substances.
“The men and women on the frontlines of this crisis need every tool available to stop the flow of deadly drugs into our communities,” Greene County Sheriff Steven Smith said. “This bill would have provided a critical deterrent, but Senate Democrats chose to ignore the devastating impact this crisis is having on families across Virginia. This is a failure of leadership.”
“Fentanyl is killing Virginians at an alarming rate, and those responsible must be held accountable,” said Shenandoah County Sheriff Timothy Carter. “Law enforcement officers are fighting every day to save lives, but when the General Assembly refuses to give us the means to prosecute these cases properly, it makes our job that much harder. This was an opportunity to stand up for victims and their families, and Democrats failed them.”
With overdose deaths reaching record highs, this vote is a stark reminder that the choice in the upcoming election is clear: stand with law enforcement and victims, or stand with criminals. The people of Virginia deserve leadership that prioritizes public safety and justice, not politicians who enable lawlessness.