Firearms; use or display while committing a felony, increases penalty. (HB439)
Introduced By
Del. Scott Lingamfelter (R-Woodbridge)
Progress
✓ |
Introduced |
✗ |
Passed Committee |
☐ |
Passed House |
☐ |
Passed Senate |
☐ |
Signed by Governor |
☐ |
Became Law |
Description
Use or display of firearm in committing felony; penalty. Increases the mandatory minimum sentences for use or display of a firearm during the commission of certain felonies from three to five years for a first offense and from five to ten years for a second or subsequent offense. Read the Bill »
Outcome
Bill Has Failed
History
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| 01/07/2016 | Committee |
| 01/07/2016 | Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/13/16 16102269D |
| 01/07/2016 | Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice |
| 01/09/2016 | Impact statement from VCSC (HB439) |
| 01/14/2016 | Assigned to sub: Subcommittee Criminal Law |
| 02/08/2016 | Impact statement from DPB (HB439) |
| 02/16/2016 | Left in Courts of Justice |
Comments
The ACLU of Virginia opposes this bill. Among other things, mandatory minimum sentences: increase the effects of existing racial disparities in the criminal justice system, strip judges of the ability to make the sentence fit the crime, empower prosecutors to push defendants into bargaining away their constitutional rights, and unnecessarily increase the prison population. The ACLU of Virginia opposes legislation that would expand or increase mandatory minimum sentences.
Mandatory minimum sentences pervert the criminal justice system by inflating prosecutors' power during plea bargaining and preventing judges from fitting the punishment to the crime and defendant. Harsh sentences destroy families, perpetuate poverty, and lead to overcrowded prisons. Right Way Forward Virginia opposes this bill.