Intentional injury to property or a monument or memorial; reduces penalty. (HB5138)

Introduced By

Del. Lee Carter (D-Manassas)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Intentional injury to property or a monument or memorial; penalty. Reduces from a Class 6 felony to a Class 1 misdemeanor the penalty for damages of $1,000 or more for the crime of intentional injury or destruction of (i) any property, real or personal, not his own or (ii) a monument or memorial for war veterans, a monument erected to mark the site of an engagement fought during the Civil War, or a memorial to designate the boundary of a city, town, or tract of land. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Failed

History

DateAction
08/26/2020Committee
08/26/2020Presented and ordered printed 20200904D
08/26/2020Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
08/28/2020Impact statement from DPB (HB5138)
11/09/2020Left in Courts of Justice

Comments

Andrée Gitchell writes:

I implore you as politicians representing my country NOT to reduce the penalty for persons who seek violence as a way to express their dislike of the statues that reflect our history. There are rational, respectful ways to bring about change. Violence cannot be given a mere slap on the wrist! Our history is a sacred part of who we are as Americans. While we can learn from history, we cannot change it to suit individual narrative.

Barry Slagle writes:

I am not in favor of this bill because it permits any destruction of any memorial without consequences.

Waldo Jaquith writes:

I am not in favor of this bill because it permits any destruction of any memorial without consequences.

That is not true. This bill makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in prison or a fine of $2,500.