Va. Senate upholds four of Kaine's vetoes

By: Jim Nolan | Richmond Times-Dispatch
Published: April 09, 2009

The Democratic-controlled Virginia Senate today upheld Gov. Timothy M. Kaine's vetoes of three bills seeking to expand the death penalty and a bill that would allow holders of concealed weapons permits to carry firearms into bars.

A two-thirds vote from both the Senate and the House of Delegates is required to override a governor's veto. Failure to achieve two-thirds in either house means that the legislation will not become law.

Senators sustained the governor's veto on Senate Bill 961, the so-called "triggerman" bill, that would have allowed the death penalty to apply to participants in a capital murder who did not actually pull the trigger.

Senators also voted not to expand the capital murder statute to include death penalty eligibility for people convicted of killing fire marshals [Senate Bill 1069], and a bill designed to extend the same coverage for auxiliary police officers [Senate Bill 1409].

"Virginia is second in the nation in the number of executions we carry out," states Kaine's notes on his vetoes. " . . . I do not believe further expansion of the death penalty is necessary to protect human life."

Senators also refused to override Kaine's veto of legislation that would allow concealed weapons permit holders to carry their weapons into bars and restaurants that serve alcohol.

Last year, Senate Bill 1035 cleared both Houses but was vetoed by Kaine -- and Senate supporters of the legislation failed to muster the two-thirds vote needed to override the governor's veto.

"Allowing concealed weapons into restaurants and bars that serve alcohol puts the public, the employees, and our public safety officers at risk," Kaine wrote in explaining his veto, noting the opposition to the legislation by law enforcement groups.

"The only ones who can carry are those with a disregard for the law," said the bill's sponsor, Sen. Emmett Hanger, R-Augusta.

Gun advocates did wring one victory from the Senate, which voted, 30-10 to override Kaine's veto of Senate Bill 877, which will allow retired law enforcement officers to carry concealed weapons into restaurants and clubs that serve alcohol. The legislation is likely to be approved in the House of Delegates and become law.