As expected, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine yesterday vetoed five death-penalty bills and a bill that would allow holders of concealed weapons permits to carry guns into bars and restaurants.
Kaine may have trouble sustaining his veto of a couple of the death-penalty measures when lawmakers reconvene in Richmond on April 8.
Two of the bills would extend eligibility for the death penalty to murderers of auxiliary police officers. Another would extend eligibility for the penalty to murderers of fire marshals.
Each passed both houses of the General Assembly by a veto-proof majority. Two-thirds of the members of each body are required to override a veto.
As he did a year ago, Kaine likely will succeed in sustaining his veto of the two so-called "triggerman" bills. They would extend the death penalty to an accomplice who helped plan, but did not actually commit a murder.
"Virginia is already second in the nation [to Texas] in the number of executions we carry out," Kaine said in explaining his vetoes.
"While the nature of the offenses targeted by this legislation is very serious, I do not believe that further expansion of the death penalty is necessary to protect human life."
Kaine also vetoed the guns-in-bars bill a year ago.
"Allowing concealed weapons into restaurants and bars that serve alcohol puts the public, the employees and our public safety officers at risk," Kaine said. "I take seriously the objections of law enforcement to this measure."
Other gun-related bills vetoed by Kaine would:
- Allow retired law-enforcement officers to carry weapons into bars or restaurants.
- Exempt active-duty service members, who are not Virginia residents or don't have a concealed-weapon permit, to buy more than one handgun a month.
- Allow someone seeking a concealed weapons permit to complete the required firearms training online. Kaine said online testing would open opportunities for individuals to receive a permit under fraudulent circumstances.
- Prohibit city or county law-enforcement officials from conducting voluntary gun-buyback programs, then destroying the guns.
Kaine also vetoed a measure that would allow unlicensed law officers to operate new, unregulated lie-detector devices. Untested devices should not be used in police investigations, Kaine said.
Kaine also announced yesterday that he had signed several measures meant to boost economic development.
One will allow the state to help finance major projects -- those that would have a "substantial regional economic impact," create at least 400 full-time jobs and include a capital investment of at least $250 million.
"During this difficult economic time it's important that we are equipped with the right tools to keep Virginia competitive in the global marketplace," Kaine said.
Contact Tyler Whitley at (804) 649-6780 or twhitley@timesdispatch.com.
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