Gallup: U.S. Death Penalty Support Stable at 63%

[Valin]

Crime and Consequences:

Kent Scheidegger

1/9/13

 

Lydia Saad reports for Gallup:

 

Americans' support for the death penalty as punishment for murder has plateaued in the low 60s in recent years, after several years in which support was diminishing. Sixty-three percent now favor the death penalty as the punishment for murder, similar to 61% in 2011 and 64% in 2010.

 

The "diminishing" is relative to the all-time high in 1994. Almost any quantity one cares to measure is "down" if the all-time high is chosen as reference point. "Americans' support for the death penalty has varied widely over the 77 years Gallup has measured it, and now stands at 63%, which is about average for the full trend."

 

(Snip)

 

My only question is...What's wrong with the other 37%