An article in the New York times stated that support...

An article in the New York times stated that support for capital punishment in the United State's was dropping. According to a CNN/Gallup poll 66% favour the measure, fourteen percent less than in 1994. But, in the leader writer's opinion, the percentage of those in favour varies with the level of crime. The level of consensus varied from 70% in the 50s, 42% in 1966, 51% in 1969 and 72% in 1986. In an NBC/Wall Street Journal survey only 32% declared themselves certain that all those put to death were in fact guilty of the crimes committed. Whilst according to ABC/Washington Post, "for the first time in 15 years the majority of Americans don't believe that capital sentencing is a deterrent to crime. The pro-lobby lost one of its main points".