An attempt in the state House of Representatives Thursday to put the death penalty on this fall's ballot fell short.
There were 55 votes in favor and 52 against, but 73 pro votes were needed to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot.
The vote was preceded by emotional debate, and the visitors' gallery in the House of Representatives chambers was packed with people both against and for the penalty. Some of them were relatives of murder victims including the parents of a Detroit police officer recently shot and killed during a routine traffic stop.
Representative Larry Julian, a former state trooper who introduced the legislation, said he wouldn't ask for the measure to be reconsidered.
