American Majority Endorses the Death Penalty
Many adults in the United States remain in favour of the death penalty for a person convicted of murder, according to a poll by Gallup released by USA Today. 64 % of respondents agree with this rationale, down 5 points in a year.
Since 1976, 1,135 people have been put to death in the United States, including 22 this year. More than 1/3 of all executions have taken place in the state of Texas. 14 states and the District of Columbia do not engage in capital punishment.
On Nov. 20, the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Committee voted 105-48 to call for a worldwide moratorium on capital punishment. The resolution is not mandatory, and opponents may refuse to implement it by invoking their national sovereignty.
Italy's ambassador to the UN Guilio Terzi declared: "This years increase in the number of votes cast in favour of the resolution reaching the unprecedented figure of 105 shows the growing support among the membership on an issue to which Italy and its European partners attach a great deal of importance."
Polling Data
Are you in favour of the death penalty for a person convicted of murder?
Oct. 2008 Oct. 2007 May 2006
In favour 64% 69% 65%
Opposed 30% 27% 28%
Not sure 6% 4% 7%
(source: Gallup / USA Today)
[Methodology: Telephone interviews to 1,011 American adults, conducted from Oct. 3 to Oct. 5, 2008. Margin of error is 3 %.]
(source: Angus Reid Global Monitor)
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