Support for US death penalty slips below half, Gallup finds

The short version

• A new Gallup poll found 49 percent of people favor the death penalty for murder, with 45 percent opposed, the first sub-majority reading since 1971.[Al Jazeera]
• Support varies sharply by age and party, at 54 percent for those 50 and older versus 39 percent under 30, and 73 percent of Republicans versus 28 percent of Democrats.[Al Jazeera]
• Gallup calls the result statistically similar to last year's 52 percent, and 27 states still have the death penalty, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.[Al Jazeera]

Key facts

• Gallup found 49 percent of people favor the death penalty for those convicted of murder, while 45 percent are opposed.[Al Jazeera]
• Support is 54 percent among people aged 50 and older and 39 percent among those younger than 30.[Al Jazeera]
• Support is about 73 percent among Republicans, 50 percent among independents and 28 percent among Democrats.[Al Jazeera]
• The Death Penalty Information Center reports 27 states still have capital punishment, 23 have abolished it and four have paused it through executive action.[Al Jazeera]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• US poll shows death penalty lost majority support for first time since 1971Al Jazeera