The Montana state House came closer to abolishing the death penalty Monday than it has ever before, ultimately failing to pass the measure by just one vote.
According to the Montana Lee Newspapers,
the House ended up deadlocked 50-50, which means the measure is likely dead for the 2015 legislative session. Although the state Senate has passed legislation ending the death penalty, the House never has.
State Rep. David "Doc" Moore (R), sponsor of
House Bill 370, said the people on death row should instead spend their lives in prison without parole.
“And to me, personally, I couldn't imagine a
worse fate than being locked up on prison for the rest of my life,” he said, according to Montana Television Network.
"Our system of justice is the best in the world. It is comprised of men and women who do the best they can, get it right more often than not, substantially more right than wrong," Holder said. "There's always the possibility that mistakes will be made. ... It's for that reason that I am opposed to the death penalty."