Seventy-three percent (73%) of Texas voters say Major Nadal Malik
Hasan should receive the death penalty if he is convicted of last
week’s massacre at Ford 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. Thirteen
percent (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.
Eighty-four percent (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 six percent (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. Forty-one percent (41%) are not very
or not at all concerned about any such backlash. These numbers are
roughly identical to those found nationally.
Seventy-nine percent
(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.
Eighty-six
percent (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.
Forty-four
percent (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.
Sixty-one
percent (61%) of Americans favor the death penalty. Twenty-three
percent (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. Forty percent (40%) are very concerned.
