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Terrorist Attacks: Public Opinion from April 1995-January 2001

Terrorist Attacks: Public Opinion from April 1995-January 2001

GALLUP NEWS SERVICE

PRINCETON, NJ -- Before today's tragic events, Americans' concern about terrorist attacks had dropped from the higher levels recorded immediately after the Oklahoma City bombings in 1995. Additionally, polls conducted after U.S. attacks on suspected terrorist camps in 1998 showed overwhelming public support for such actions, including the use of ground troops and cruise missiles, if necessary, in future attacks on terrorist bases. Here are the details:

  • In January of this year, Gallup asked Americans about the likelihood of terrorist attacks, and found that 47% of Americans said it was at least somewhat likely that the United States would be attacked by another country or terrorist group using nuclear weapons within the next 10 years.
  • In April 2000, Gallup polling showed that concern about a terrorist attack "similar to the bombing in Oklahoma City" had abated. Twenty-four percent said they were somewhat worried about such an attack -- 4% very worried, and 20% somewhat worried. After the Oklahoma City bombing, in a poll conducted in April 1995, 42% of the public was either very or somewhat worried.
  • In August 1998, 75% approved of the U.S. military attacks against terrorist facilities in the countries of Afghanistan and Sudan. Furthermore, two-thirds said they would approve of the future use of ground troops to attack terrorist groups and their facilities, and three-quarters said they would approve the future use of cruise missiles.

The most extensive polling on terrorism in recent years was conducted just after the Oklahoma City bombing in April 1995. As noted, at that point 42% of Americans said they were worried that they or someone in their family would become a victim of a terrorist attack. Fifty percent said it was very likely that a similar act of violence would occur elsewhere in the United States in the near future, and another 36% said it was somewhat likely. About one out of four parents had tried to limit their children's exposure to news coverage of the bombing. About 45% said that it was possible for the U.S. government to try to prevent such terrorist attacks in the future, but 46% said that there was little the government could do.

January 10-14, 2001

How likely do you think it is that the United States will be attacked by another country or terrorist group after using nuclear weapons within the next ten years? Would you say it is -- very likely, somewhat likely, somewhat unlikely, or very unlikely?

 

 

Very
likely

Somewhat likely

Somewhat unlikely

Very
unlikely

No
opinion

           

2001 Jan 10-14

16%

31

29

23

1



April 7-9, 2000

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



August 21-23, 1998

As you may know, the United States recently launched military attacks against terrorist facilities in the countries of Afghanistan and Sudan. Do you approve or disapprove of those attacks?

 

 

98 Aug 21-23

98 Aug 20

Approve

75

66

Disapprove

18

19

No opinion

7

15

 

100%

100



Would you generally approve or disapprove of FUTURE attacks by the United States using [FORM A: cruise missiles; FORM B: ground troops] to attack terrorist groups or their facilities?

A. Cruise missiles

BASED ON -- 650 -- NATIONAL ADULTS ASKED FORM A; MARGIN OF ERROR EQUALS ± 4 PCT PTS

 

Approve

75

Disapprove

19

No opinion

6

 

100%



B. Ground troops

BASED ON -- 667 -- NATIONAL ADULTS ASKED FORM B; MARGIN OF ERROR EQUALS ± 4 PCT PTS

 

Approve

66

Disapprove

29

No opinion

5

 

100%



Shortly after it was announced that the U.S. had attacked terrorist facilities in Afghanistan and Sudan on Thursday, President Clinton made a brief speech explaining the reasons why it was necessary to take this action at this time. How much do you trust Bill Clinton to provide an honest explanation for why he took this action -- [READ 1-4]?

 

Completely

36

Mostly

34

Not much, or

16

Not at all

11

No opinion

3

 

100%



August 20, 1998

How worried are you that someone in your family will become a victim of a terrorist attack -- READ 1-4:

 

 

Very worried

Somewhat worried

Not too worried

Not at all worried

No
opinion

           

98 Aug 20

10%

22

38

29

1

96 Jul 20-21***

13%

26

34

27

*

96 Apr 9-10**

13%

22

33

32

*

95 Apr 21-23**

14%

28

33

24

1



*** Asked of half sample

** Question Wording: 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 --

In your view, are those attacks more likely to increase or decrease terrorist actions against Americans, either in the United States or abroad?

 

Increase

47

Decrease

38

NO EFFECT (vol.)

5

No opinion

10

 

100%



If it turns out the U.S. military attack results in civilian casualties -- which of the following statements would come closer to your view -- [ROTATE 1-2]?

 

Civilian casualties are regrettable, but the U.S. was right to attack

65

The U.S. should not have attacked unless it was certain there would be no civilian casualties

27

DEPENDS ON NUMBER OF CASUALTIES (vol.)

1

DEPENDS ON OTHER FACTORS (vol.)

1

No opinion

6

 

100%



August 10-12, 1998

Next, we have two questions about the bombings of U.S. embassies in the African nations of Kenya and Tanzania last Friday.

How much confidence do you have that the people responsible for those bombings will be caught –

 

A great deal of confidence

23

A moderate amount

40

Not much

24

No confidence at all

11

No opinion

2

 

100%



If the U.S. determines that the government of a foreign country was in some way involved in those bombings, would you favor or oppose a U.S. military attack against that country?

 

Favor

48

Oppose

45

No opinion

7

 

100%



July 29, 1996

How much confidence do you have in the ability of federal law enforcement agencies to catch the person or people responsible for the bombing at the Atlanta Olympics -- [READ 1-4]:

 

 

96 Jul 29

95 Apr 20

A great deal of confidence

48

58

A moderate amount

38

30

Not much

9

7

No confidence at all

4

2

No opinion

1

3

 

100%

100%



How worried are you that you or someone in your family will become a victim of a terrorist attack similar to the bombing at the Atlanta Olympics -- [READ 1-4]:

 

 

96 Jul 29

95 Apr 21-23

Very worried,

11

14

Somewhat worried,

27

28

Not too worried or

29

33

Not worried at all?

33

24

No opinion

*

1

 

100%

100%



Do you think there are any actions that the United States government could take to prevent future terrorist attacks in this country, or is it not possible to prevent future attacks?

 

 

96 Jul 29

95 Apr 20

Actions could prevent attacks

49

45

Not possible to prevent attacks

46

46

No opinion

5

9

 

100%

100%



How likely do you think it is that bombings or similar acts of violence will occur elsewhere in the United States in the near future -- [READ 1-4]:

 

 

96 Jul 29

95 Apr 21-23

95 Apr 20

Very likely

51

50

47

Somewhat likely

39

36

42

Somewhat unlikely

5

9

5

Very unlikely

3

3

3

No opinion

2

2

3

 

100%

100%

100%



For each of the following measures -- please tell me whether you would support it as a way to reduce terrorist acts, or whether you think it is going too far. First, ... Next, ... [ROTATE]?

 

 

Support

Going
too far

No opinion

 

%

%

%

Increasing surveillance of U.S. citizens by the government

45

50

5

95 Apr 20

37

58

5

Implementing random searches by the police of people entering large public events

78

19

3

Increasing the presence of uniformed police officers in public areas

90

8

2

Giving the U.S. military new powers to aid the police in anti-terrorist activities within the United States

76

19

5



 

GALLUP NEWS SERVICE

 

In order to reduce your chances of being a victim of terrorist attacks, will you, personally, be less likely to attend large public events in the future, or not?

 

96 Jul 29

Will be less likely to attend large public events

28

Will not be less likely

69

No opinion

2

 

100%

If you were in Atlanta right now and had tickets to Olympic events, what would you do

 

96 Jul 29

Go to the events as you had scheduled

87

Cancel your plans

12

No opinion

1

 

100%

Overall, do you think the United States' government is doing enough to prevent terrorism in this country, or not?

 

96 Jul 29

Yes, enough

48

No, not enough

48

No opinion

1

 

100%

 

April 21-24, 1995

First, do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill Clinton is handling the events surrounding the bombing in Oklahoma City?

 

95 Apr 21-23

Approve

84

Disapprove

7

No opinion

9

 

100%

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 --

 

95 Apr 21-23

Very worried

14

Somewhat worried

28

Not too worried

33

Not worried at all

24

No opinion

1

 

100%

 

Which of the following statements better describes why you are not worried about a terrorist attack --

ASKED OF THOSE WHO ARE "NOT TOO WORRIED" OR "NOT WORRIED AT ALL"

N = 433; MARGIN OF ERROR = ± 5 PERCENTAGE POINTS

 

95 Apr 21-23

You are not worried because the chance that something like that will happen to you or your family is small

45

You are not worried because even though there is some chance that something like that will happen, there is nothing you can do to prevent it

45

BOTH EQUALLY (vol.)

6

OTHER (vol.)

3

No opinion

1

 

100%

How likely do you think it is that bombings or similar acts of violence will occur elsewhere in the United States in the near future --

 

95 Apr 21-23

95 Apr 20

Very likely

50

47

Somewhat likely

36

42

Somewhat unlikely

9

5

Very unlikely

3

3

No opinion

2

3

 

100%

100%

How likely do you think it is that bombings or similar acts of violence will occur in your community in the near future --

 

95 Apr 21-23

Very likely

9

Somewhat likely

19

Somewhat unlikely

27

Very unlikely

44

No opinion

1

 

100%

How much confidence do you have in the ability of federal law enforcement agencies to catch all of the people responsible for the bombing in Oklahoma City --

 

95 Apr 21-23

A great deal of confidence

54

A moderate amount

37

Not much

6

No confidence at all

2

No opinion

1

 

100%

 

Based on what you have read or heard so far, do you believe that the bombing in Oklahoma City was committed by a few people, or by a large and organized group of terrorists?

 

95 Apr 21-23

A few people

46

Large, organized group of terrorists

47

NEITHER/OTHER (vol.)

2

No opinion

5

 

100%

Thinking about the bombing incident in Oklahoma City, which of the following would you find more disturbing --

 

95 Apr 21-23

If you knew the people responsible were U.S. citizens

65

If you knew the people responsible were foreign citizens

18

BOTH EQUALLY (vol.)

11

NEITHER (vol.)

4

No opinion

2

 

100%

 

Overall, do you approve or disapprove of the way the news media has covered the bombing incident in Oklahoma City?

 

95 Apr 21-23

Approve

79

Disapprove

17

No opinion

4

 

100%

In your view, has media coverage of the bombing been fair or unfair to Muslims and Arabs?

 

95 Apr 21-23

Fair

61

Unfair

28

No opinion

11

 

100%

 

Now I'd like you to think about the [child/children] in your household who [is/are] under the age of 13.

Have you tried to limit the amount of coverage of the bombing which your [child/children] [is/are] exposed to -- by avoiding TV news, radio and newspaper coverage -- or have you not tried to do this?

 

BASED ON PARENTS; N = 217;MARGIN OF ERROR = ± 7 PERCENTAGE POINTS

 

95 Apr 21-24

Tried to limit exposure

26

Not tried to limit exposure

74

No opinion

*

 

100%

Have you made a special effort to talk to your [child/children] about the bombing incident in Oklahoma City, or not?

BASED ON PARENTS; N = 203;MARGIN OF ERROR = ± 8 PERCENTAGE POINTS

 

95 Apr 21-24

Yes

62

No

38

No opinion

0

 

100%

 

[Has/Have] your [child/children] indicated that [he or she is/they are] afraid of becoming the victim of a similar act of violence, or not?

BASED ON PARENTS; N = 199;MARGIN OF ERROR = ± 8 PERCENTAGE POINTS

 

95 Apr 21-24

Yes, afraid

16

No, not expressed this fear

84

No opinion

0

 

100%

[Has your child/Have any of your children] been upset in any other way by the bombing in Oklahoma City -- or has it not really affected [him or her/them]?

BASED ON PARENTS; N = 196;MARGIN OF ERROR = ± 8 PERCENTAGE POINTS

 

95 Apr 21-24

Yes, upset

27

No, did not affect them

73

No opinion

*

 

100%

 

As you know, Republican leaders in Congress have often publicly criticized the size and power of the federal government. Do you think this encouraged the people responsible for the bombing in Oklahoma City to commit that act or do you think they would have committed that act regardless of what the Republican leaders had said?

 

95 Apr 23-24

Yes, encouraged

8

No, would have committed act regardless

88

No opinion

5

 

100%

Do you think the federal government has become so large and powerful that it poses an immediate threat to the rights and freedoms of ordinary citizens, or don't you think so?

 

95 Apr 23-24

Yes, immediate threat

39

Don’t think so

58

No opinion

3

 

100%

 

Do you think ordinary citizens should be allowed to arm and organize themselves in order to resist the powers of the federal government?

 

95 Apr 23-24

Yes

19

No

78

No opinion

3

 

100%

As you know, some Americans have armed and organized themselves to resist the powers of the federal government. Do you think the federal government should actively investigate and infiltrate those groups even if doing so may infringe on their Constitutional rights?

 

 

95 Apr 23-24

Yes

72

No

23

No opinion

5

 

100%

 

April 20, 1995

Do you personally feel any sense of danger from terrorist acts where you live and work, or not?

 

95 Apr. 20

93 Mar. 12-14

Yes

16

12

No

84

87

No opinion

*

1

 

100%

100%

 

In your view, is the place where you work the kind of place that could be the target of a terrorist attack -- or is it probably not a place that terrorists might target for attack?

BASED ON -- 349 -- EMPLOYED RESPONDENTS; ± 6 PCT. PTS.

Yes, a target

17

No, probably not a target

82

No opinion

1

 

100%

 

How much confidence do you have in the ability of federal law enforcement agencies to catch the person or people responsible for the bombing in Oklahoma City --

A great deal of confidence

58

A moderate amount

30

Not much

7

No confidence at all

2

No opinion

3

 

100%

 

If and when the people responsible for the bombing in Oklahoma City are caught, what do you think should

be the penalty -- The death penalty, or life imprisonment, with absolutely no possibility of parole?

   

Penalty for Murder:

 

95 Apr. 20

94 Jun. 22

93 Oct. 13-18

Death penalty

80

50

59

Life imprisonment

16

32

29

NEITHER/OTHER (vol.)

1

14

11

No opinion

3

4

1

 

100%

100%

100%

 

Do you think there are any actions that the United States government could take to prevent future terrorist attacks in this country, or is it not possible to prevent future attacks?

Actions could prevent attacks

45

Not possible to prevent attacks

46

No opinion

9

 

100%

For each of the following measures -- please tell me whether you would support it as a way to reduce terrorist acts, or whether you think it is going too far. First, ... Next, ...

 

Support

Going to far

No opinion

%

%

%

Establishing security

checkpoints in most

office-buildings like those

found in airports

87

11

2

Restricting visits to the

U.S. by people from

countries with known ties

to terrorism

76

21

3

Restricting access to

Federal buildings in the

U.S

62

33

5

Increasing Surveillance of

U.S. citizens by the

government

37

58

5

Increasing surveillance of

citizens of foreign countries who are in the United States

63

33

4

 

How likely do you think it is that bombings or similar acts of violence will occur elsewhere in the United

States in the near future

Very likely

47

Somewhat likely

42

Somewhat unlikely, or

5

Very unlikely?

3

No opinion

3

 

100%

 

Finally, do you think you will change any aspect of your personal life or activities in order to reduce your chances of being a victim of terrorist attacks -- or will you not make any changes in your personal life?

   

Will change aspects of personal life

16

Will not make any changes

83

No opinion

1

 

100%

*-- Less than 0.5%

(vol.) – Volunteered Response

 

Survey Methods

These results are based on telephone interviews with randomly selected national samples of at least 1,000 adults, 18 years and older, conducted between 1995 and 2001. For results based on these samples, 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.


Gallup https://news.gallup.com/poll/4876/terrorist-attacks-public-opinion-from-april-1995january-2001.aspx
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