Summary
Most Americans acknowledge the fact that terrorists could strike a U.S. city with a nuclear, chemical or biological weapon, yet few worry about the possibility, according to the findings of a recent nationwide Pew Research Center survey. The poll confirms the lack of public engagement on this issue experienced by Senator Richard Lugar, who made this the central issue of his unsuccessful Republican presidential campaign.
The nationwide survey found 72% believe there is a chance that terrorists could use a weapon of mass destruction to attack a U.S. city, but only 13% worry a great deal about this and 27% are somewhat worried. Fully 59% profess to be not worried about such dangers. But indifference to a nuclear threat is part of a broader pattern, the survey revealed. One year after the bombing of a federal building in Oklahoma City, the public is not particularly concerned about any kind of terrorism within the United States. Two out of three (66%) Americans said they are not much or not at all worried about terrorism in public places.
A plurality of respondents (49%) believe the greatest terrorist threat to the country comes from inside the country , while 39% see it originating outside. This result is similar to a Los Angeles Times poll one year ago (40% inside, 33% outside). But considerably more respondents take a position on the question now (88% vs. 73%) compared to April 1995 in the immediate wake of the Oklahoma City tragedy. A strong majority (56%) believe anti-terrorism laws on the books now are too weak, which is almost exactly the same result as in last year’s poll (57%).
But sentiment has reversed itself on whether civil liberties will have to be curbed in order to combat terrorism in this country. By a two-to-one margin, Americans believe now that it will not be “necessary for the average person to give up some civil liberties” in the fight, 65% to 30%. Last year, however, a plurality of 49% said they thought some sacrifice of civil liberties would be required, compared to 43% who did not.
Trends in Attitudes on Terrorism-LA Times-April '95March '96%%Greater Threat From:Outside U.S.3339Inside U.S.4049Neither/Both/DK2712100100Anti-Terrorism Laws:Too Strong33Too Weak5756About Right2129DK1912100100To Curb Terrorism:Need to Give up SomeCivil Liberties4930Not necessary4365DK85100100
These numbers, while remarkable in themselves, mask significant differences within the populace on many of the questions. Most striking is the way in which the races perceive the threat. Perhaps reflecting their fear of home-grown racism, non-whites were much more worried about terrorism in public places than were whites (51% vs. 31%) and less convinced that the source of the threat is external (33% vs. 41% of whites). On the other hand, fewer non-whites saw some chance of nuclear terrorism than did whites (62% vs. 74%). Another notable difference was that Independents and Republicans saw the terrorist threat as primarily internal to the country, while Democrats were evenly divided on whether it was mainly internal or external.
Young Worry Less
Young American adults were less worried about the threat of attack by nuclear or other weapons of mass destruction than were older respondents, perhaps because their generation did not grow up with the Cold War fears of nuclear holocaust and radioactive fallout from nuclear testing. Almost two out of three (65%) of 18 to 29 years olds said there was a chance of nuclear-chemical- biological terrorism, compared to 77% among the 30 to 49 year olds and 74% among 50 to 64 year olds. The younger people also worried considerably less about the danger of such an attack: 36% of the 18 to 29 year olds worried somewhat or a great deal compared to 44% of those 65 years old and older.
High school graduates were more worried (47% worried somewhat or a great deal) than college graduates (33%) about nuclear terrorism. Among regions, westerners saw more chance of nuclear attack, but southerners expressed the most worry of the regional respondents (19% worry a great deal vs. 9% in all other regions). Also surprising is that respondents who followed foreign news stories most closely saw no greater chance and had no greater worry of nuclear terrorism than those who followed domestic stories very closely.
A one-third minority of Americans say they are worried about terrorism in public places (21% somewhat and 13% a great deal). Women were much more concerned than men, older people more than younger ones, as well as the less educated and the poorest ones. More worried than average were regular listeners to talk radio shows (41%) and southerners (40%, with westerners least concerned at 28%).
A Threat From Within
Much as with perceptions of the nuclear threat, sharp age differences were found on where the threat comes from. While the population divided 49% internal vs. 39% external on the question, fewer than one in three respondents (29%) 65 years old and older considered the threat internal, while majorities (over 50%) of all younger age groups saw it that way. Regular talk show listeners were more convinced the threat was internal (59%) rather than external, as were Independents (57%) and Republicans (49%), with Democrats split evenly (43% and 43%) on the point.
An age division appeared again on the question of whether laws are too weak or not. Most Americans (56%) said they were, but only 48% of those 18 to 29 years old felt that way. Midwesterners, more than respondents in other regions, also believe the laws are inadequate.
Attitudes on Terrorism & Nuclear Attack By Race and Age--Race---------Age-------Non-TotalWhite White18-29 30-49 50-64 65+%%%%%%%Worry AboutTerrorism:Great Deal13103210101425Somewhat21211919222221Not much27281724272429Not at all39403247413924DK*100011100100100100100100100Greater ThreatFrom:Outside U.S.39413342382851Inside U.S.49495151555329Neither/Both/DK 121016771920100100100100100100100(N=751)(N=619)(N=126) (N=165)(N=310)(N=142)(N=126)Chance of NuclearAttack:Yes72746265777467No25243233231926DK3262*77100100100100100100100Worry About Nuc.Attack:Great Deal13122211121616Somewhat27282625292528Not much32322735303528Not at all27282329282327DK1*20111100100100100100100100(N=749)(N=596)(N=147) (N=158)(N=328)(N=133)(N=127)
