RICHMOND (WINA) – A Democrat controlled state Senate committee shelved priority Governor Youngkin legislation which would have extended a felony murder charge to drug dealers. After hearing speakers pretty evenly for and against, the Senate Judiciary Committee “passed by indefinitely” legislation carried by Hanover Republican Senator Ryan McDougle to be able to charge a drug dealer who puts the fentanyl in the drug, then goes away as someone who takes that drug overdoses and dies. Currently, Virginia law does not allow that person to be charged in the killing.

Speakers, including law enforcement and a family who lost a son through a fentanyl overdose, contends this law would hold the dealer responsible for the killing their drugs caused. However, opponents argued such legislation would have a chilling effect on a person who was using drugs with a victim, and the victim ODed, from calling for medical help. McDougle pointed out Virginia has a “good samaritan” law that he helped patron that exempts a person in the room sharing the drugs with the OD victim from being charged if the victim survives. On the other hand, if the victim doesn’t survive, that person could be charged with possession.