Local legislators say there could be changes to Virginia's death penalty legislation when Bob McDonnell becomes governor.

Since 2004, both chambers in the Virginia General Assembly have passed a reform to something that's known as Triggerman Rule. However, each time the reform was sent to the governor's desk, it was vetoed.

State Sen. Mark Obenshain says, "I fully understand that fair-minded people might disagree about the death penalty. However, this is an important reform."

Obenshain has been one of the key sponsors of the bill that would make co-conspirators of murder eligible for the death penalty, regardless of whether or not they physically committed the crime.

He adds, "It must be fair, and it must be consistent. What this loophole does is draw distinctions and differentiates in a way that makes no sense."

However, when Bob McDonnell takes over as governor, the Triggerman loophole may be removed.

It is not good news for opponents of the death penalty, like Harrisonburg resident Chris Edwards.

Edwards says, "There is no evidence that there is less serious crime in the states that don't have capital punishment."

Edwards says the change could open up the gates for even more executions in Virginia.

She says, "I'd rather see more rehabilitative programs and more police on the roads and on the streets."

Obenshain adds, "It's something that I think is important in making sure that our criminal justice system is fair, blind, and evenly and equally applied."

Currently, there are three exceptions to the Triggerman Rule in Virginia.

In order for a person, co-conspirator, to be eligible for capital murder charges and thus the death penalty, the crime would have to involve a murder-for-hire, an enterprise group such as a gang or mob, or be related to terrorism.