Hanoi, May 27 -- Lawmakers are deliberating changes to the Penal Code at the 15th National Assembly (NA)'s 9th session on May 27 morning, including a proposal to reduce the number of crimes punishable by the death penalty. A highlight of the proposed amendment is the removal of the capital punishment from 8 out of 18 crimes, replacing them with life imprisonment. The eight crimes expected to be exempted from the death penalty provisions include activities aimed at overthrowing the people's administration (Article 109), destructing material and technical infrastructure of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (Article 114), producing and selling counterfeit medicines (Article 194), sabotaging peace and causing aggressive war (Article 421), esp...