GALLUP NEWS SERVICE
PRINCETON, NJ -- April 19, 2000 marks the fifth anniversary of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, which resulted in the deaths of 168 people. The incident was the worst act of terrorism on U.S. soil. This week, a new memorial is being unveiled in Oklahoma City to remember the victims of this tragedy.
How likely is it that such a bombing could take place again? Over time, the number of Americans who are worried about a repeat of the tragedy has declined from the levels that were measured immediately after the incident in 1995. The latest Gallup Poll, conducted April 7-9, shows that 24% of Americans say they are worried about being the victim of a terrorist attack like the Oklahoma City bombing. This number is significantly lower than one year after the bombing (35% in April 1996), and lower still than immediately after the bombing (42% in April 1995).
To date, Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols have been convicted of the crime, and are currently serving time in federal prison. McVeigh is under sentence of death for federal murder charges, while Nichols is under life sentence for involuntary manslaughter and conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction. However, Americans continue to think that others in addition to McVeigh and Nichols may also have been responsible for the bombing, even though no one else has been charged. In the latest poll, nearly two-thirds of Americans (64%) say that others might have been involved in the incident.
The prevalence of this conspiracy theory belief today, however, is lower than in 1997, when 73% thought others may have been involved. The proportion of Americans who believe that only McVeigh and Nichols were responsible has increased from 16% in 1997 to 23% today. Differences of opinion exist on this matter according to partisanship, with Republicans more likely to believe that only McVeigh and Nichols were involved (32%) than independents (19%) or Democrats (20%).
Federal Government Power
At the time of the Oklahoma City bombing, there was some
speculation that the crime was an extreme manifestation of
anti-government beliefs held by a radical fringe. However, a Gallup
Poll question first asked in the aftermath of the bombing found
that one aspect of these beliefs -- that the federal government has
become so large and powerful that it poses an immediate threat to
the rights and freedoms of ordinary citizens -- actually rings true
for a number of Americans. Today, 45% hold this view, compared to
39% at the time of the bombing in 1995. Slightly more than half of
the public, 51%, now disagrees, saying that the federal government
does not pose such a threat. Not surprisingly, conservatives are
much more likely to believe the federal government is too large and
powerful (53%) than are liberals (33%). Men are also more likely
than women hold this view (52% compared to 37%), as are those at
lower education levels (50% of those with a high school education
or less, compared with 33% of those who are college graduates).
Survey Methods
The results reported here are based on telephone interviews with a
randomly selected national sample of 1,006 adults, 18 years and
older, conducted April 7-9, 2000. For results based on the whole
sample, one can say with 95 percent confidence that the maximum
error attributable to sampling and other random effects is plus or
minus 3 percentage points. In addition to sampling error, question
wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can
introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion
polls.
How worried are you that you or someone in your family will become a victim of a terrorist attack similar to the bombing in Oklahoma City -- very worried, somewhat worried, not too worried, or not worried at all?
BASED ON -- 487 -- NATIONAL ADULTS IN FORM A; +/- 5 PCT PTS
| Very worried |
Somewhat worried |
Not too worried |
Not worried at all |
No opinion |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % | % | % | % | % | |
| 2000 Apr 7-9 | 4 | 20 | 41 | 34 | 1 |
| 1996 Apr 9-10 | 13 | 22 | 33 | 32 | * |
| 1995 Apr 21-23 | 14 | 28 | 33 | 24 | 1 |
As you may know, the only two people who have been charged in the Oklahoma City bombings are Terry Nichols and Timothy McVeigh. Do you think that responsibility for the bombings is limited to these men, or do you think there are other people responsible for the bombings who have not been charged?
BASED ON -- 519 -- NATIONAL ADULTS IN FORM B; +/- 5 PCT PTS
| Only Nichols and/or McVeigh responsible |
Others are responsible |
No opinion |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| % | % | % | |
| 2000 Apr 7-9 | 23 | 64 | 13 |
| 1997 Dec 18-21 | 16 | 73 | 11 |
Do you think the federal government has become so large and powerful that is poses an immediate threat to the rights and freedoms of ordinary citizens, or don't you think so?
| Yes, immediate threat |
Don't think so |
No opinion |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| % | % | % | |
| 2000 Apr 7-9 | 45 | 51 | 4 |
| 1995 Apr 23-24 | 39 | 58 | 3 |
