Nov. 14
TEXAS:
73% in Texas Favor Death Penalty for Fort Hood Shooter
73% of Texas voters say Major Nadal Malik Hasan should receive the death
penalty if he is convicted of last week's massacre at Fort Hood, Texas.
A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Lone Star State voters finds
that only 15% do not believe Hasan should be sentenced to death if
convicted. 13% are not sure.
The survey was taken on Wednesday night. On Thursday, military prosecutors
charged Hasan with 13 counts of premeditated murder. If convicted, he is
eligible for the death penalty.
Voters in Texas overwhelmingly think the Fort Hood shootings should be
investigated by military authorities as a terrorist attack rather than by
civilian authorities as a criminal act by a 74% to 16% margin.
Nationally, 60% of voters say last week's shootings at Fort Hood should be
investigated by military authorities as a terrorist act.
84% of Texas voters say the Army should remove from active duty all
officers like Hasan who try to make contact with radical terrorist
organizations such as al Qaeda. Only 6% disagree.
Slightly fewer voters (76%) nationally support the immediate removal from
active duty of any officers reaching out to radical terrorist groups.
In Texas, 58% of voters are at least somewhat concerned that the shooting
at Fort Hood will prompt a backlash against Muslims serving in the
military, with 27% who are very concerned. 41% are not very or not at all
concerned about any such backlash. These numbers are roughly identical to
those found nationally.
79% of male voters in Texas say Hasan should receive the death penalty if
convicted, compared to 67% of women voters.
Republicans and voters not affiliated with either party favor the death
penalty for Hasan much more strongly than Democrats.
86% of Texas GOP voters and 81% of unaffiliateds say the Fort Hood
shootings should be investigated by military authorities as a terrorist
act, a view shared by just 53% of Democrats.
44% of Democrats are very concerned about a possible backlash against
other Muslims serving in the military, compared to just 16% of Republicans
and 23% of unaffiliated voters.
Only 16% of voters nationwide say America's relationship with the Muslim
world will be better one year from now. That's the lowest level measured
all year.
61% of Americans favor the death penalty. 23% oppose capital punishment,
and 16% are not sure.
However, 73% are at least somewhat concerned that some people may be
executed for crimes they did not commit. 40% are very concerned.
(source: The Westside Story)