Name Justin Lung
Office Sought WV House of Delegates
Party Affiliation Democrat
District 71
City/Town Stonewood
The US Supreme Court will decide Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization this summer, which some have speculated may overturn Roe v. Wade. If there were no Constitutional protections for abortion, what do you think West Virginia's abortion policies should be?
I would stand by Roe v. Wade as the law of the land. I feel the states should respect this decision and follow it in each state. In the US, state legislatures have passed more than 1,100 restrictions since 1973. Though abortion is legal in the United States, five states have only one abortion provider in the state, making safe, legal abortion inaccessible for many people, especially young and poor women. Below is a summary of the most common abortion requirements, restrictions, and barriers in the U.S. states.
Counseling requirements
Ultrasound requirement
Waiting periods
Doctor and hospital requirements
Gestational abortion limits
Parental consent requirements
Partial-birth abortion ban
Public funding restrictions
Private insurance coverage restrictions
Refusal of care rule
Several West Virginia municipalities have passed ordinances that expand the definition of racial discrimination to include discriminating against traditional or natural hair textures and styles. Would you support expanding this protection statewide? Why or why not?
Yes, WV has the “Crown Act” that was being debated based on hair textures and styles. I would pass the Crown Act statewide because no discrimination of any kind should be accepted. I have witnessed too many people at work and school be discriminated against due to hair texture and it is a race issue and it shouldn’t be. All should be treated equal and I would support non-discrimination policies across the board. No hate in our state. We must be more inclusive and diverse.
Many states have created laws that seek to limit the teaching of "divisive concepts" or "critical race theory". West Virginia narrowly missed passing a similar law during the 2022 Legislative Session. What is the value or harm in teaching these topics and what role should the legislature play in determining this curriculum?
I believe our educators are there to teach and it is important for our history to be taught to educate our children of the past to avoid history repeating itself. The value is our kids will be educated on the issues at hand but at appropriate higher education levels. Critical race theory is taught to some in college but not taught to young children. This is being used as a scare tactic to divide us up. The legislation should play some role in improving education but we must listen to our teachers and allow them to have their curriculum but they must step in when trying to push an agenda that isn’t even being taught in many schools. Other issues like Prayers in Public Schools · Sex Education · Corporal Punishment · Gun Control · Online Education, etc is also controversial to some. Lawmakers and proponents of the bans insist they are advocating for a balanced and “patriotic” education. However, these bans do the exact opposite: deny the truth about our nation’s history, silence dissent, and punish those who speak the truth to counter whitewashed falsehoods. Laws banning racial justice discourse are attacks on all students’ right to a fair, full, and truthful education about their country and their communities. Members of school boards must use their influence to resist bans on truth and defend the rights of teachers and students to discuss race in a classroom setting. There is little to no evidence that critical race theory itself is being taught to K-12 public school students. many teachers nonetheless describe a chilling effect. They say they now err on the side of caution for fear that a student or parent might complain, resulting in a public battle — or even, in extreme cases, that they might lose their jobs and teaching license. The law is really really vague and that is an issue where legislators must form a more detailed bill. Teachers need more control of their curriculum.
Currently there is no statewide law protecting people in matters of employment, housing, and public accommodations based on their sexuality or gender identity. Proponents claim these protections are necessary for ongoing discrimination by the LGBTQ community. Opponents claim that such protections infringe upon religious beliefs. What do you believe and would you support or oppose a statewide law?
I would support a statewide law on these issues. I have protested and spoke out in support of EHNDA in our state for years. I am LGBTQ and have been discriminated in work, public, and housing. We must pass EHNDA and/or Equality Act which would protect the LGBTQ community. Religious groups can have their opinions on the issue but shouldn’t be allowed to discriminate an entire community at the same time. Statewide protections must be passed for our state to become more diverse and equal.
Recently a revival was held at schools in Cabell and Wayne counties. The Legislature has, in recent years, passed laws to allow teaching the Bible in public schools and allowing for religious drug-prevention programs to operate in schools. What do you think the role of religion in public schools should be and why?
We have many different religions in our country and state. I stand by separation of church and state because if we have these programs in our public schools many students of all faiths or no faith will feel discriminated against. I am okay with after school programs but not during our school day. We have the separation for this reason and we go to school for an education based on science/history/etc. Programs for faith should be optional and not during the school day because many children have different faiths even from their families or no faith.
The West Virginia Senate recently unanimously adopted a resolution stating that West Virginia is prepared to welcome Ukrainian refugees. Critics have pointed out that the Legislature has recently considered legislation what would make things more difficult for refugees and immigrants to settle in West Virginia. Should West Virginia welcome refugees and immigrants? If no, why not? If yes, what can the state do to support these communities?
Yes, Our state should welcome refugees and immigrants and be more open and compassionate. The state could launch and scale up a program for ordinary Americans to sponsor refugees with the Federal Government, which must be a priority. rebuilding the resettlement infrastructure that was so badly and cruelly decimated during the Trump years, along with creating a private sponsorship program. But there is a perennial need to provide humanitarian assistance to foreign populations caught in armed conflict. America needs the political will to meet the urgency of the moment, and restore its moral leadership when it comes to humanitarian protection. I stand with the elf Ukraine in this terrible conflict which was an unprovoked war by Putin. State can raise money and supplies with organizations and show we care and welcome them.
There is increasing tension with communities of people who are unhoused or face housing insecurity. Police breakups of encampments are common, and municipalities have shown growing opposition to low-barrier housing and recovery housing. How would you address community concerns while protecting the rights of unhoused people?
I would address community concerns and focus on unlawful activity but protect the rights of Unhoused people. There is a stigma attached and not all people are criminals. They need resources, recovery, and shelter. It has a ripple effect throughout the community. It impacts the availability of healthcare resources, crime and safety, the workforce, and the use of tax dollars. Further, homelessness impacts the present as well as the future. It benefits all of us to break the cycle of homelessness, one person, one family at a time. In communities that lack adequate safe emergency shelter or affordable housing, people who are unhoused have few options other than living in public spaces. But they are often denied this last resort when other residents call the police or a city enforces ordinances making sleeping outside illegal. When police respond to homelessness, they frequently issue move-along orders or arrests and citations for sleeping or camping. This criminalization of living outside leads to a homelessness-jail cycle, which does nothing to improve the lives of people without homes or the broader community. Encampment sweeps can also traumatize people living there and interrupt their efforts to build stability.
A more effective long-term solution to homelessness is providing access to housing through a Housing First approach. Depending on a person’s needs, that could be rapid re-housing, which offers short- and medium-term support, or permanent supportive housing, which delivers services and an ongoing subsidy. But while access to housing is being expanded, communities can take a more inclusive approach to supporting people living unsheltered and improve everyone’s quality of life through three key strategies. 1. Make public space work for all community members 2. Educate the public about causes of and better ways to address homelessness 3. Create alternate ways to report concerns about homelessness that don’t involve police
Police violence has been in the forefront of national headlines for several years. Some propose more civilian oversight of law enforcement through civilian review boards that could review incidents and policies. Others view these boards as "anti-police" and point out that civilians are ill-equipped to understand the nature of police work. Do you support the use of civilian review boards? What other steps, if any, should the state take to provide transparency and accountability for police?
I would support civilian review boards. I would stand with police but they need the proper training and resources to help people and stop crime. Police and community must have a good relationship to build that trust and we need more accountability which has created this distrust of the police which who I support. Transparency saves more work in the long run. Transparency efforts that result in less crime mean fewer calls to police—and less time and resources spent. Moreover, well-designed data management systems can alleviate much of the administrative burden. Holding police accountable is important for maintaining the public's "faith in the system". Research has shown that the public prefers independent review of complaints against law enforcement, rather than relying on police departments to conduct internal investigations.
Jails in West Virginia are above capacity and are bankrupting some counties. Prisons are understaffed, making them dangerous for residents and staff alike. What steps, if any, should West Virginia take to address these issues?
We need to pay our Prison staff more and have extensive training to keep everyone safe. Capacity could be lowered by allowing more home confinement for NON VIOLENT offenders and legalize cannabis. I am seeing so many people in our state sit in prison for a marijuana charge when it’s legal in 19+ states. Yes, we must have restrictions to cannabis and side with caution but too many non violent offenders are being locked away too long when they should be sent to recovery programs. We need to focus on crime but it is time to expunge marijuana convictions.
Currently, people who are incarcerated or on probation and parole for a felony conviction are unable to vote. The West Virginia Senate Judiciary Committee passed a bill that would have expanded that right to people who are on probation and parole. When, if ever do you think people should lose their right to vote? When, if ever should that right be restored?
I think people who serve their time should be able to vote if on parole/probation and after. Those rights should be restored when proving they are contributing to society. They must work and be on good behavior while on probation/parole and able to vote. I would not support voting rights for those incarcerated at this time. I think after you serve time and show you became productive that voting rights should be gave back to you. I would restore voting rights for people on parole and probation but they would lose them when incarcerated and have to work after and contribute to society to get the rights back.