March 22, 2018 - Most U.S. Voters Back Life Over Death Penalty, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Voters Back Anti-Gun March 2-1, But Say It Won't Work

PDF format

Additional Trend Information

Sample and Methodology detail



In a simple question, American voters support the death penalty 58 - 33 percent for persons convicted of murder, according to a Quinnipiac University National Poll released today.





But when offered a choice between the death penalty or life in prison with no chance of parole, American voters choose the life option 51 - 37 percent, the first time a majority of voters backed the life without parole option since the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University Poll first asked this question in 2004.





There are deep party and gender divisions as Republicans back the death penalty 59 - 29 percent. Backing the life option are Democrats 73 - 19 percent and independent voters 49 - 37 percent. Women back the life option 56 - 33 percent. Men are divided as 45 percent back the life option and 42 percent support the death penalty.





American voters are more united as they oppose 71 - 21 percent, including 57 - 35 percent opposition among Republicans, imposing the death penalty for persons convicted of selling drugs that cause a lethal overdose.





Voters say 75 - 20 percent that this use of the death penalty would not help stop the opioid crisis.





But voters say 64 - 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 abolish it. Every other listed party, gender, education, age and racial group is opposed to abolishing the death penalty.





"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," Malloy added.





Climate Change





A total of 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."





A total of 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."





Only 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.





Climate change contributed to the recent surge of storms battering New England, 48 percent of American voters say.





Gun Violence





American voters approve 63 - 31 percent a nationwide march Saturday in support of stricter gun laws. Republicans disapprove of the march 61 - 31 percent. Voters say 62 - 31 percent, however, that the march will not be effective in getting new gun laws passed.





President Donald Trump must do more to reduce gun violence, 61 percent of voters say, as 32 percent say he is doing enough.





Congress must do more to reduce gun violence, 68 percent of voters say, as 25 percent say Congress is doing enough.





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.





The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts nationwide public opinion surveys, and statewide polls in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia, Iowa and Colorado as a public service and for research.





Visit poll.qu.edu or www.facebook.com/quinnipiacpoll





Call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter @QuinnipiacPoll.











27. Do you support or oppose the death penalty for persons convicted of murder?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Support 58% 82% 38% 57% 66% 50% 53% 71% Oppose 33 13 52 33 27 39 39 24 DK/NA 9 5 10 10 7 11 8 5 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 57% 60% 57% 56% 68% 56% 62% 42% 50% Oppose 36 30 35 33 28 35 32 41 38 DK/NA 7 10 8 11 4 9 6 17 13

28. Which punishment do you prefer for people convicted of murder: the death penalty or life in prison with no chance of parole?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Death penalty 37% 59% 19% 37% 42% 33% 32% 47% Life/No parole 51 29 73 49 45 56 55 40 DK/NA 12 12 9 14 13 11 13 12 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Death penalty 28% 40% 42% 35% 46% 34% 40% 23% 34% Life/No parole 58 47 48 53 41 54 48 70 57 DK/NA 13 13 9 12 13 12 12 7 10

TREND: Which punishment do you prefer for people convicted of murder: the death penalty or life in prison with no chance of parole?

Death Life Pen NoPar DK/NA Mar 22, 2018 37 51 12 Jun 01, 2015 43 48 9 May 02, 2013 48 43 9 Jul 17, 2008 47 44 9 Dec 14, 2004 42 46 12

29. Do you support or oppose the death penalty for persons convicted of selling drugs that contributed to a fatal overdose?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Support 21% 35% 7% 22% 24% 18% 16% 29% Oppose 71 57 87 69 70 73 77 62 DK/NA 8 8 6 9 6 9 7 9 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 18% 19% 20% 25% 26% 19% 22% 4% 29% Oppose 82 74 72 63 68 71 69 90 69 DK/NA 1 8 8 12 6 10 8 6 3

30. Do you think allowing the death penalty to be brought against people convicted of selling drugs that contributed to a fatal overdose will help stop the opioid crisis, or don't you think that will help stop the opioid crisis?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes/Help stop crisis 20% 33% 7% 19% 24% 15% 16% 24% No 75 57 91 76 72 78 80 68 DK/NA 5 10 3 5 4 7 4 7 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes/Help stop crisis 21% 21% 17% 18% 23% 17% 20% 3% 31% No 76 77 80 74 73 76 74 95 65 DK/NA 3 2 3 8 4 7 6 2 4

40. How concerned are you about climate change; very concerned, somewhat concerned, not so concerned, or not concerned at all?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Very concerned 42% 11% 72% 39% 33% 50% 45% 30% Smwht concerned 27 27 23 30 29 25 29 25 Not so concerned 16 30 4 16 21 11 13 21 Not concerned at all 15 32 1 14 17 13 12 23 DK/NA 1 - - 1 1 - - 1 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Very concerned 42% 45% 40% 42% 30% 45% 38% 57% 54% Smwht concerned 30 25 30 23 29 26 27 29 24 Not so concerned 18 17 13 15 21 14 17 13 14 Not concerned at all 9 13 16 20 20 15 17 1 7 DK/NA 1 - - 1 1 1 1 - -

TREND: How concerned are you about climate change; very concerned, somewhat concerned, not so concerned, or not concerned at all?

Very Smwht NotSo Not Concern Concern Concern Concern DK/NA Mar 22, 2018 42 27 16 15 1 Sep 28, 2017 45 27 10 18 - Aug 16, 2017 45 28 12 14 1 Jun 07, 2017 49 27 10 13 - Apr 05, 2017 45 31 11 12 1 Mar 24, 2017 43 30 15 12 - Mar 08, 2017 46 25 14 15 1 Feb 08, 2017 44 28 12 14 - Jan 27, 2017 44 30 14 12 - Jan 12, 2017 45 29 14 13 1

See additional trend information at top of page



41. How concerned are you that you or a member of your family will be personally affected by climate change: very concerned, somewhat concerned, not so concerned, or not concerned at all?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Very concerned 35% 11% 59% 34% 26% 44% 35% 29% Smwht concerned 27 22 31 29 27 27 29 24 Not so concerned 17 25 7 19 20 13 19 18 Not concerned at all 20 42 2 18 26 14 17 29 DK/NA 1 - 1 1 1 1 - 1 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Very concerned 32% 38% 34% 37% 22% 40% 32% 46% 46% Smwht concerned 28 25 31 24 27 27 27 35 27 Not so concerned 20 19 13 15 22 15 18 10 11 Not concerned at all 19 18 22 23 28 17 23 7 14 DK/NA 1 - - 1 1 - 1 1 2

TREND: How concerned are you that you or a member of your family will be personally affected by climate change: very concerned, somewhat concerned, not so concerned, or not concerned at all?

Very Smwht NotSo Not Concern Concern Concern Concern DK/NA Mar 22, 2018 35 27 17 20 1 Sep 28, 2017 36 28 13 22 1 Aug 16, 2017 37 29 14 19 1 Apr 05, 2017 37 29 16 17 1

42. Do you think the United States is doing enough to address climate change, doing too much, or do you think more needs to be done to address climate change?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Doing enough 22% 41% 6% 24% 26% 18% 22% 28% Doing too much 10 24 2 7 14 6 8 15 More to be done 63 27 92 64 55 70 66 50 DK/NA 5 8 1 4 4 5 4 7 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Doing enough 22% 17% 25% 23% 28% 22% 25% 11% 17% Doing too much 7 11 11 11 17 7 12 3 8 More to be done 68 69 61 58 51 65 58 83 72 DK/NA 3 3 4 7 5 6 5 3 3

TREND: Do you think the United States is doing enough to address climate change, doing too much, or do you think more needs to be done to address climate change?

Doing Doing MoreTo Enough TooMuch BeDone DK/NA Mar 22, 2018 22 10 63 5 Sep 28, 2017 21 12 63 5 Aug 16, 2017 19 13 64 4 Jun 07, 2017 19 12 65 4 Apr 05, 2017 18 18 59 5 Mar 24, 2017 19 17 59 4 Mar 08, 2017 18 19 59 4 Feb 08, 2017 17 18 59 5 Dec 03, 2015 21 17 57 5

43. As you may know, New England has recently experienced multiple large snow storms over a matter of weeks. Do you think that climate change contributed to these events, or not?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes/Contributed 48% 17% 77% 47% 39% 56% 47% 39% No 41 74 12 41 51 32 41 51 DK/NA 11 9 11 12 10 12 12 10 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes/Contributed 53% 49% 49% 46% 33% 52% 43% 78% 60% No 37 39 43 42 56 37 46 16 30 DK/NA 11 13 8 11 10 12 11 5 10

44. Would you like to see the death penalty abolished nationwide, or not?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes/Abolished 31% 13% 47% 30% 26% 35% 36% 24% No 64 84 46 64 72 57 60 72 DK/NA 5 3 6 6 3 7 4 4 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes/Abolished 34% 28% 31% 31% 26% 34% 30% 35% 33% No 62 68 64 63 73 59 66 56 60 DK/NA 4 4 5 6 1 6 4 9 7

45. Do you think Congress is doing enough to reduce gun violence or do you think Congress needs to do more to reduce gun violence?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Doing enough 25% 46% 3% 27% 33% 17% 21% 34% Do more 68 41 96 64 58 77 72 56 DK/NA 8 13 1 9 9 7 7 9 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Doing enough 28% 24% 25% 20% 36% 19% 28% 8% 18% Do more 67 66 69 72 54 73 64 90 76 DK/NA 5 10 6 8 9 7 8 2 7 HAVE KIDS <18 YRS Gun DENSITY............ InPublic HsHld City Suburb Rural Yes School Doing enough 37% 19% 19% 38% 29% 26% Do more 53 75 75 50 63 66 DK/NA 10 5 6 12 7 8

TREND: Do you think Congress is doing enough to reduce gun violence or do you think Congress needs to do more to reduce gun violence?

Doing Do Enough More DK/NA Mar 22, 2018 25 68 8 Feb 20, 2018 17 75 8 Dec 20, 2017 25 67 8 Nov 15, 2017 23 69 9 Oct 12, 2017 24 68 8

46. Do you think President Trump is doing enough to reduce gun violence or do you think President Trump needs to do more to reduce gun violence?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Doing enough 32% 64% 4% 32% 39% 25% 32% 39% Do more 61 26 92 60 53 68 63 51 DK/NA 7 10 4 7 7 7 6 10 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Doing enough 31% 29% 35% 29% 43% 29% 36% 12% 26% Do more 65 61 60 61 49 64 57 85 70 DK/NA 4 10 6 9 8 8 8 3 4 HAVE KIDS <18 YRS Gun DENSITY............ InPublic HsHld City Suburb Rural Yes School Doing enough 45% 25% 26% 47% 37% 34% Do more 46 70 68 42 56 59 DK/NA 9 5 6 10 7 7

47. In general, do you think that President Trump is afraid of the NRA, or not?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes/Afraid 37% 9% 66% 36% 32% 43% 42% 26% No 57 89 26 59 65 50 54 71 DK/NA 5 2 8 4 3 7 4 3 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes/Afraid 37% 34% 40% 39% 28% 39% 34% 56% 44% No 59 63 55 54 69 56 62 32 50 DK/NA 5 4 5 6 2 4 3 12 6 HAVE KIDS <18 YRS Gun DENSITY............ InPublic HsHld City Suburb Rural Yes School Yes/Afraid 27% 43% 42% 24% 32% 34% No 71 49 54 73 64 62 DK/NA 2 8 3 4 4 4

TREND: In general, do you think that President Trump is afraid of the NRA, or not?

Yes No DK/NA Mar 22, 2018 37 57 5 Mar 06, 2018 31 65 5

48. As you may know, there is a march in support of stricter gun laws planned for the end of March. Do you approve or disapprove of this protest?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 63% 31% 94% 63% 56% 70% 66% 53% Disapprove 31 61 5 29 39 23 27 40 DK/NA 6 9 1 8 5 7 6 7 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 65% 62% 67% 63% 52% 67% 60% 88% 69% Disapprove 29 30 29 32 43 26 34 7 28 DK/NA 7 8 4 4 5 8 7 6 4 HAVE KIDS <18 YRS Gun DENSITY............ InPublic HsHld City Suburb Rural Yes School Approve 49% 71% 70% 46% 56% 60% Disapprove 45 25 23 46 36 32 DK/NA 6 4 6 9 8 8

49. Do you think that the march in support of stricter gun laws will be effective in getting new gun laws passed, or not?