American voters support the death penalty 58 to 33 percent for persons convicted of murder, a new Quinnipiac University National Poll released on Thursday reveals.
But when offered a choice between death or life in prison with no chance of parole, voters choose the life option 51 to 37 percent, the first time a majority has backed life without parole since Quinnipiac first asked the question in 2004.
But the poll of 1,291 voters nationwide, conducted from March 16-20, also found deep party and gender divisions:
- Republicans back the death penalty 59 to 29 percent.
- Democrats back the life option 73 to 19 percent.
- Independent voters back the life option 49 to 37 percent.
- Women back the life option 56 to 33 percent.
- Men are divided as 45 percent back life and 42 percent support the death penalty.
- Voters oppose 71 to 21 percent the death penalty for persons convicted of selling drugs that cause a lethal overdose. That includes a 57 to 35 percent opposition among Republicans.
- Voters say 75 to 20 percent that this use of the death penalty would not stop the opioid crisis.
- But voters say 64 to 31 percent that the death penalty should not be abolished nationwide.
Democrats are divided as 47 percent say abolish the death penalty and 46 percent say don't. Every other listed party, gender, education, age and racial group is opposed to abolishment.
The poll was released a day after U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions instructed federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty in drug-related cases whenever it is "appropriate," saying the Justice Department must boost efforts to counter America’s epidemic of opioid abuse.
His mandate to prosecutors followed a plan announced by President Donald Trump earlier this week that called for executing opioid dealers and traffickers, and for stiffer sentencing laws for opioid trafficking.
"It's a mixed message on a question that has moral and religious implications. Voters are perhaps saying, 'Keep the death penalty, but just don't use it," said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll.
"Despite what President Donald Trump says, neither Democrats nor Republicans have the stomach for executing drug dealers."
On the subject of gun violence, Quinnipiac University found:
- American voters approve 63 to 31 percent a nationwide march Saturday in support of stricter gun laws. Republicans disapprove of the march 61 to 31 percent.
- 62 to 31 percent, however, believe the march will not be effective in getting new gun laws passed.
- 61 percent of voters say President Donald Trump must do more to reduce gun violence, while 32 percent say he is doing enough.
- 68 percent of voters say Congress must do more to reduce gun violence, while 25 percent say Congress is doing enough.
Quinnipiac also asked voters about climate change:
- 69 percent of American voters are "very concerned" or "somewhat concerned" about climate change, while 31 percent are "not so concerned" or "not concerned at all."
- 62 percent are "very concerned" or "somewhat concerned" that they or a family member will be personally affected by climate change, while 37 percent are "not so concerned" or "not concerned at all."
- 22 percent of voters say the U.S. is doing enough to address climate change, while 10 percent say the U.S. is doing too much and 63 percent say more needs to be done.
- More needs to be done, say 27 percent of Republicans, 92 percent of Democrats and 64 percent of independent voters.
From March 16-20, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,291 voters nationwide with a margin of error of 3.3 percentage points, including the design effect. Live interviewers call landlines and cell phones.
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