US poll shows death penalty lost majority support for first time since 1971
Support for capital punishment has been declining in the US for years over concerns about fairness and racial bias. Support for capital punishment has been declining in the US for years over concerns such as fairness and racial bias. A new Gallup poll has found that support for the death penalty in the United States has fallen below 50 percent, marking the first time that the controversial practice has lost majority support since 1971. The poll released on Tuesday found that 49 percent of people said they are in favour of capital punishment for those convicted of murder, the lowest level since 1966, while 45 percent say they are opposed. “While statistically similar to last year’s 52 percent, the latest update marks the first time support has been below the majority level since 1971, when it was also at 49 percent,” Gallup said in a statement. Support for the death penalty has been declining for decades amid concerns about issues of fairness, racial bias, high costs, botched executions and the possibility of innocent people being put to death.
