GALLUP NEWS SERVICE
About one out of eight Americans are worried that they themselves may be the victim of a hate crime, a figure which rises to one in four among non-whites. At the same time, there is strong majority support among all Americans for the idea of enacting a hate crime law in their state. The issue of hate crimes is particularly germane this week given the trial and conviction of John William King in Jasper, Texas for the murder of James Byrd, Jr.
A Gallup poll conducted this past weekend, February 18-21, shows that seventy percent of the U.S. public favors having a hate crime law in their state. Twenty-five percent are opposed. A hate crime law was defined as one that provides "harsher penalties for crimes motivated by hate of certain groups than the penalties for the same crimes if they are not motivated by this kind of hate". A majority of every population segment favors such laws, although support is somewhat lower among conservatives and Republicans than it is among liberals and Democrats.
Who should be covered under such hate crime laws if they are enacted? The poll gave respondents four choices: racial minorities, religious and ethnic minorities, women and homosexuals. The public is overwhelmingly in favor of all four groups being included, with a slightly lower percent in favor of including homosexuals - 75% -- than the other three, all of whom are favored to be included by 83% or higher.
The poll makes it clear that certain groups in society feel threatened by hate crimes more than others. Overall, 13% of Americans say that they worry that they could be the victims of a hate crime. There are almost no differences in this respect between men and women, but 28% of non-whites - more than one out of four -- say that they worry about being such a victim. The poll additionally shows that 13% of Americans personally know someone they feel is capable of committing a hate crime.
Some states have special laws that provide harsher penalties for crimes motivated by hate of certain groups than the same penalties for the same crimes if they are not motivated by this kind of hate. Would you favor or oppose this type of hate crime law in your state?
| Favor | Oppose | No Opinion | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99 Feb 19-21 |
70 | 25 | 5 |
Do you personally know anyone you think is capable of committing a hate crime?
| Yes | No | No Opinion | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99 Feb 19-21 |
13 | 86 | 1 |
What about you personally...are you worried about being the victim of a hate crime, or not?
| Yes, worried | No, not worried | No Opinion | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99 Feb 19-21 |
13 | 86 | 1 |
If a hate law were enacted in your state, which of the following groups do you think should be covered? How about...
| Yes, should be covered | No, should not | No Opinion | |
|---|---|---|---|
| A. Racial Minorities | |||
| 99 Feb 19-21 |
85 | 11 | 4 |
| B. Women | |||
| 99 Feb 19-21 |
83 | 13 | 4 |
| C.Homosexuals | |||
| 99 Feb 19-21 |
75 | 20 | 5 |
| D. Religious and Ethnic Minorities | |||
| 99 Feb 19-21 |
84 | 12 | 4 |
