Virginia lawmakers push for harsher penalties for drug dealers linked to overdoses

LYNCHBURG,Va.(WSET)—Statelawmakersareadvocatingforstricterpenaltiesfordrugdealersconnectedtooverdoses,followingtherecentarrestofadealerinLynchburgforsellingdeadlylaceddrugs. RepublicanDelegateWendellWalkeremphasizedtheseverityoftheissue,stating,“It’snodifferentthanjustgoingandkillingsomeoneonthestreetthere.Becausewealreadyknowthedamagethatdrugsdotoindividuals.”Walkerbelievesthatdealerslinkedtooverdosesshouldfaceharshercharges,suchasfelonyhomicide.“We’vegottomakesurethatthemessageissentthatthisisgoingtobeastrongfelonyoffense,”hesaid. AbillthatpassedtheGeneralAssemblythissessionwouldchargedrugdealerswithinvoluntarymanslaughter.Lawmakersfrombothpartiesagreedthatfentanylisa“weaponofterrorism.”BethanyHarrison,theCommonwealth’sAttorneyfortheCityofLynchburg,said,“Ononehand,thisisaweaponofterrorism,butifyoukillsomeoneit’sinvoluntarymanslaughter,which