The terrorist crimes of Sept

The terrorist crimes of Sept. 11 haven't altered basic views on capital punishment: Americans still divide about evenly on whether murderers in general should be put to death or locked up for the rest of their lives.
Most don't object to the death penalty on principle. A new ABCNEWS.com poll finds 65 % of Americans support capital punishment when no alternative is offered. But given life without parole as an option, people divide 46 % for executions, 43 percent for life in prison.
The Death Penalty Trend
Support the Death Penalty Oppose the Death Penalty
Now 65% 26%
April 2001 63% 28%
Sept. '94 (Gallup) 80% 16%
Now 46% 43%
April 2001 46% 45%
Feb. '99 (Gallup) 56% 38%
This ABCNEWS.com survey was conducted by telephone May 1-5 among a random national sample of 1,021 adults.