updated 3/2023
Death Penalty Polling
Compiled by Dudley Sharp, independent researcher, death penalty expert, former opponent, 832-439-2113, CV at bottom
95- 99% Death Penalty Support by Loved Ones of Capital Murder Victims
Dudley Sharp, independent researcher, pro death penalty expert, former opponent, 832-439-2113, CV at bottom
Death Penalty Support up to 86%, depending upon question (8/2021)
New Evidence of Broad Support for Death Penalty | RealClearPolicy
Joseph M. Bessette & J. Andrew Sinclair, RealClearPolicy August 16, 2021 https://www.realclearpolicy.com/2021/08/16/new_evidence_of_broad_support_for_death_penalty_790059.html#!
This study reflects well known polls, for the last 15 years, proving much higher death penalty support than by the oft quoted, much less accurate Gallup, Pew and others, which use "murders", instead of "death eligible, capital murders".
Review of other polls, here:
Death Penalty Polling
Death Penalty Eligible Polling
Death penalty polling should use death penalty eligible cases, not "all" murders, as, wrongly, used by Gallup, Pew and many others.
Example: "Do you support the death penalty in cases of the rape/torture/murder of children?" with answer options of "sometimes", "always" and "never", which would, properly, represent our true death penalty protocols and support or opposition. (1)
The US executes 0.2% of our murderers. Possibly 10-15% of murders are death penalty eligible.
Death penalty opposition falls by 43% and support rises by 25%, when comparing polls of a specific death penalty eligible crime vs all murders, with "all murders" being the misleading subject of most polls (2).
Polling 95- 99% Death Penalty Support by Loved Ones of Capital Murder Victims (3).
94% of victims' family members said the imposed death sentence should be carried out (4).
92% of police chiefs support the death penalty (5).
86% Death Penalty Support: Highest Ever - April 2013. World Support Remains High (1). The media did not allow you to see this poll, as detailed.
81% support, across all demographics, for the execution of Oklahoma City bomber, mass murderer Timothy McVeigh, 16% opposed (2).
70% support death penalty for Boston Marathon Bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev (6).
California , arguably, the most liberal state in the nation, California has had three referendum, popular votes to decide if the death penalty should be ended, with each vote supporting the death penalty and, also, most recently, 2016, asking to speed up death penalty appeals.
A California gubernatorial candidate, (now Governor) Newsom, promised he would respect the pro death penalty vote of the people. He lied, of course (7).
Western Europe
The majority population of Western Europe supported the execution of Iraqi mass murderer dictator Saddam Hussein. Western Europe is, by far, the most vocal anti death penalty group of governments (EU) in the world. The government vs the people, very much like the recent death penalty repeals in US states, all of which occurred with the majority of their citizens supporting the death penalty - very undemocratic.
Asia
Asia, collectively, has the highest percentage of death penalty countries, with the lowest murder rate.
Japan has 81% death penalty support, 9% opposed (1/2020)
https://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0006296099?fp=bcd781790a09f7ada60f202c13470a31
The US executes 0.2% of our murderers. Possibly 10-15% of murders are death penalty eligible.
Death penalty opposition falls by 43% and support rises by 25%, when comparing polls of a specific death penalty eligible crime vs all murders, with "all murders" being the misleading subject of most polls (2).
Polling 95- 99% Death Penalty Support by Loved Ones of Capital Murder Victims (3).
94% of victims' family members said the imposed death sentence should be carried out (4).
92% of police chiefs support the death penalty (5).
86% Death Penalty Support: Highest Ever - April 2013. World Support Remains High (1). The media did not allow you to see this poll, as detailed.
81% support, across all demographics, for the execution of Oklahoma City bomber, mass murderer Timothy McVeigh, 16% opposed (2).
70% support death penalty for Boston Marathon Bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev (6).
California , arguably, the most liberal state in the nation, California has had three referendum, popular votes to decide if the death penalty should be ended, with each vote supporting the death penalty and, also, most recently, 2016, asking to speed up death penalty appeals.
A California gubernatorial candidate, (now Governor) Newsom, promised he would respect the pro death penalty vote of the people. He lied, of course (7).
Western Europe
The majority population of Western Europe supported the execution of Iraqi mass murderer dictator Saddam Hussein. Western Europe is, by far, the most vocal anti death penalty group of governments (EU) in the world. The government vs the people, very much like the recent death penalty repeals in US states, all of which occurred with the majority of their citizens supporting the death penalty - very undemocratic.
Asia
Asia, collectively, has the highest percentage of death penalty countries, with the lowest murder rate.
Japan has 81% death penalty support, 9% opposed (1/2020)
https://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0006296099?fp=bcd781790a09f7ada60f202c13470a31
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see Closure, Sanction, Murder & Other Violence, at bottom
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600+ pro death penalty quotes from murder victim's families &
3300+ from some of the greatest thinkers in history
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1) 86% Death Penalty Support: Highest Ever - April 2013 (5). World Support Remains High 95% of Murder Victim's Family Members Support Death Penalty
2) Oklahoma City bomber, mass murderer Timothy McVeigh’s execution was supported by 81%, while 16% opposed (Gallup 5/02/01).
With nearly identical polling dates (Gallup, 6/10/01), there was 65% general support for executions for all murders, with 28% opposed reviewed here:
81% support for execution Oklahoma City bomber, mass murderer Timothy McVeigh, 16% opposed
https://news.gallup.com/poll/1567/vast-majority-americans-think-mcveigh-should-executed.aspx
and here
and here
US Death Penalty Support at 80%: World Support Remains High
http://prodpinnc.blogspot.com/2012/04/us-death-penalty-support-at-80-world.html
3) 95% Death Penalty Support by Loved Ones of Capital Murder Victims
http://prodpinnc.blogspot.com/2016/03/95-death-penalty-support-by-capital.html
4) "Widow of slain policeman adamant in support of death penalty', ReadingEagle.com, December 13, 2015
3) 95% Death Penalty Support by Loved Ones of Capital Murder Victims
http://prodpinnc.blogspot.com/2016/03/95-death-penalty-support-by-capital.html
4) "Widow of slain policeman adamant in support of death penalty', ReadingEagle.com, December 13, 2015
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/widow-of-slain-policeman-adamant-in-support-of-death-penalty
5) figure 5, pg 15, , THE FRONT LINE: Law Enforcement Views on the Death Penalty , The Death Penalty Information Center,
5) figure 5, pg 15, , THE FRONT LINE: Law Enforcement Views on the Death Penalty , The Death Penalty Information Center,
6) 70% want death penalty for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev if he is convicted of Boston bombing
www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/most-want-death-penalty-for-dzhokhar-tsarnaev-if-he-is-convicted-of-boston-bombing/2013/04/30/3f547f96-b1c5-11e2-baf7-5bc2a9dc6f44_story.html
7) California Gov. Newsom: Dead Wrong on All Death Penalty Points
https://prodpinnc.blogspot.com/2019/03/gov-newsom-dead-wrong-on-death-penalty.html
7) California Gov. Newsom: Dead Wrong on All Death Penalty Points
https://prodpinnc.blogspot.com/2019/03/gov-newsom-dead-wrong-on-death-penalty.html
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Closure, Sanction, Murder & Other Violence
Dudley Sharp
Closure and support of the death penalty are very different things. 100% of capital murder survivors can support the death penalty, with 0% finding that they do not get emotional/psychological closure from it, as reality, closely, reflects.
I know many survivors in murder cases. I have found 0% find emotional/psychological closure, with any sanction.
No one expects that type of closure. Why would they? Their loved ones were unjustly murdered and the murderer is justly sanctioned. Does anyone believe that a rape victim has emotional/psychological closure because their rapist is justly sanctioned? Of course not.
Closure and support of the death penalty are very different things. 100% of capital murder survivors can support the death penalty, with 0% finding that they do not get emotional/psychological closure from it, as reality, closely, reflects.
I know many survivors in murder cases. I have found 0% find emotional/psychological closure, with any sanction.
No one expects that type of closure. Why would they? Their loved ones were unjustly murdered and the murderer is justly sanctioned. Does anyone believe that a rape victim has emotional/psychological closure because their rapist is justly sanctioned? Of course not.
There are three types of closure with execution.
-- Justice. The survivors find that execution is the most just sanction and when the execution takes place, justice has been served, a claim confirmed by the jury, which imposed the sanction. Such is the same for all survivors or victims in any cases where the survivors and victims approve of the sanction, whether execution or other.
-- Chapter. All survivors/victims are different and have different paths that they must follow. For many, it is going through various stages, which can be described as chapters in a book, chapters which differ as they go through their lives. The execution/sanction is the closing of the legal chapter.
-- Sparing Innocents. The trauma of losing a loved one to murder is horrific. Survivors do not want anyone else to face that. The closure of execution is that it is the only sanction which guarantees that the murderer cannot murder or, otherwise, harm, again. It is a call for mercy. Living murderers do harm and murder, again. Executed ones do not. Basic. Survivors want there to be no chance of more innocents being murdered or otherwise harmed. execution is the only guarantee. Those opposing execution are willing to chance more innocents harmed.
much more, here:
IS EXECUTION CLOSURE? Of course.
https://prodpinnc.blogspot.com/2013/04/is-execution-closure-of-course.html
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600+ pro death penalty quotes from murder victim's families &
3300+ from some of the greatest thinkers in history
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Victim Services
Victims' Voices
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Additional research, w/sources, w/fact checking/vetting & critical thinking, as required of everyone.
The Death Penalty: Justice & Saving More Innocents
and
Students, Academics & Journalists: Death Penalty Research
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Partial CV
