State of Virginia's democratic governor rejected a bill on Monday that would used an electric chair for execution. The state legislature was intended to resolve the scarcity of lethal drugs which is affecting all the states with execution as a capital punishment.
Virginia Governor, Terry McAuliffe, decided not to sign the state legislature that would have brought back the electric chair as the state's method of execution once lethal drug supply runs out, according to Daily Mail. The said bill was introduced as a measure to answer the shortage of lethal drugs all over the states with death penalty.
"Our citizens share my concerns and do not wish to be forced into using this terrible form of punishment," McAuliffe said regarding the electric chair method. The state of Virginia currently has a law where condemned inmates can choose between the electric chair and lethal injection. Despite his rejection, McAuliffe, a Democrat reaffirms his support on the death penalty.
McAuliffe instead proposed an amendment to the bill on Sunday, in order to still carry out a lethal injection execution. The Guardian reported, the Virginia governor said, the state secretly make drugs for use in lethal injections. Officials would allow on purchasing lethal drugs for executions from "compounding" pharmacies and keeping the identities of the pharmacies providing the drugs will be considered confidential.
If pass, Ivan Teleguz, who is on death row for killing his girlfriend would be the first inmate with death penalty to be executed under the new amendment. Representing lawyers for Teleguz stated, they have strong evidence that will prove his innocence. Lawmakers will decide April 20 whether to accept McAuliffe's amendment, the Death Penalty Information Center cited.
Del. Jackson Miller of Manassas, the Republican introduced the electric-chair legislation. Miller also said, in a statement that he supports the governor's amendment and would encourage his House colleagues to back McAuliffe.
