NPR-Kaiser Family Foundation-Kennedy School of Government Civil Liberties Study

NPR/Kaiser Family Foundation/Kennedy School of Government Civil Liberties

IV. Anti-Terrorist Measures and Recent Legislation

Note: As shown, some questions were asked only of subsets of respondents (e.g., people who said they had decided how they would vote). Unless otherwise indicated, the tables reflect percentages of the subset that was asked the question, not percentages of the overall population. An asterisk (*) indicates a response of less than 1 percent. A cross indicates a volunteered response.

(Asked of one half of total respondents; n = 603)

25a. In order to reduce the threat of terrorism in the US, would you support or oppose giving law enforcement broader authority to do the following things? Would you support or oppose giving them broader authority to (INSERT EACH ITEM)?

	Support	Oppose	Don't know
a. Wiretap telephones	69	29	2
b. Intercept e-mail	72	23	5
c. Intercept ordinary mail	57	39	4
d. Examine internet activity	82	15	3
e. Detain suspects for a week without charging them	58	38	3
e1. Detain terrorist suspects indefinitely without charging them	48	48	4
f. Examine students' education records	76	22	2
g. Examine telephone records	82	17	1
h. Examine bank records	79	20	1
i. Track credit card purchases	75	21	4
j. Examine tax records	75	24	1

25a. # Supported Summary

(One half of total respondents; n = 603)

	None	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11
11/12/01	4	4	2	2	6	4	5	7	8	16	19	21

(Asked of respondents who support giving law enforcement broader authority to do specified things; n = 575)

25a2. Do you think law enforcement should be required to obtain a court order before conducting these activities, or not?

	Should be required to obtain a court order	Should not be required to obtain a court order	Don't know
11/12/01	68	31	1

25a/25a2. Combo Table

	Support giving law enforcement broader authority to do any specified things			Oppose giving law enforcement broader authority to do any specified things
	NET	Should be required to obtain a court order	Should not be required to obtain a court order
11/12/01	96	64	30	4

(Asked of one half of total respondents; n = 603)

25a1. Are you concerned that if law enforcement is granted wider authority in any of these areas, it will be used against innocent people?

	Yes	No	Don't know
11/12/01	65	34	1

(Asked of respondents who are concerned that if law enforcement is granted wider authority they will use it against innocent people; n = 380)

25a1a. Are you very concerned, somewhat concerned, or only a little concerned?

	Very concerned	Somewhat concerned	Only a little concerned	Don't know
11/12/01	38	44	17	1

25a1/25a1a. Combo Table

	Concerned that if law enforcement is granted wider authority it will be used against innocent people				Not concerned that if law enforcement is granted wider authority it will be used against innocent people	Don't know
	NET	Very	Somewhat	Only a little		Don't know
11/12/01	65	25	29	11	34	1

(Asked of one half of total respondents; n = 603)

25a5. If law enforcement is granted wider authority to act on its own in any of these activities, do you think it will ever use this authority on you or someone you know and respect, or not?

	Will use this authority on you or someone you know and respect	Will not use authority on you or someone you know and respect	Don't know
11/12/01	44	52	4

(Asked of one half of total respondents; n = 603)

25a3. Do you think it should be easier for law enforcement to take these actions against people who are not US citizens than it is to take them against US citizens, or should citizens and non-citizens be treated the same by law enforcement?

	Easier to take these actions against people who are not US citizens	Citizens and non-citizens should be treated the same way	Don't Know
11/12/01	41	56	3

(Asked of one half of total respondents; n = 605)

25b. In order to reduce the threat of terrorism in the US, would you support or oppose giving law enforcement broader authority to do the following things when it comes to Arabs and others of Middle Eastern descent. Would you support or oppose giving them broader authority to (INSERT EACH ITEM)?

	Support	Oppose	Don't know
a. Wiretap their telephones	60	38	2
b. Intercept their e-mail	68	29	3
c. Intercept their ordinary mail	54	42	3
d. Examine their internet activity	75	24	1
e. Detain suspects of Arab or Middle Eastern descent for a week without charging them	51	45	4
e1. Detain terrorist suspects of Arab or Middle Eastern descent indefinitely without charging them	37	61	3
f. Examine students' education records	70	29	1
g. Examine telephone records	77	23	*
h. Examine bank records	75	23	1
i. Track credit card purchases	72	27	1
j. Examine tax records	73	26	1

25b. # Supported Summary

(One half of total respondents; n = 605)

	None	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11
11/12/01	8	5	2	4	4	5	7	8	11	12	18	16

(Asked of respondents who support giving law enforcement broader authority to do specified things; n = 548)

25b1. Do you think law enforcement should be required to obtain a court order before conducting these activities, or not?

	Should be required to obtain a court order	Should not be required to obtain a court order	Don't know
11/12/01	68	30	2

25b/25b1. Combo Table

	Support giving law enforcement broader authority to do any specified things			Oppose giving law enforcement broader authority to do any specified things
	NET	Should be required to obtain a court order	Should not be required to obtain a court order
11/12/01	92	61	27	8

(Asked of one half of total respondents; n = 605)

25b3. Are you concerned that if law enforcement is granted wider authority in any of these areas, it will be used against innocent people?

	Yes	No	Don't know
11/12/01	67	31	2

(Asked of respondents who are concerned that if law enforcement is granted wider authority they will use it against innocent people n = 409)

25b4. Are you very concerned, somewhat concerned, or only a little concerned?

	Very concerned	Somewhat concerned	Only a little concerned	Don't know
11/12/01	41	44	16	-

25b3/25b4. Combo Table

	Concerned that if law enforcement is granted wider authority it will be used against innocent people				Not concerned that if law enforcement is granted wider authority it will be used against innocent people	Don't know
	NET	Very	Somewhat	Only a little		Don't know
11/12/01	67	27	29	10	31	2

(Asked of respondents who support giving law enforcement broader authority to do specified things; n = 548)

25b2. Do you think this broader authority should apply only to Arabs or others of Middle Eastern descent who are NOT U.S. citizens, or should it also apply to those Middle Easterners who ARE U.S. citizens?

	Should apply to Arabs or others of Middle Eastern descent who are NOT U.S. citizens	Should also apply to those Middle Easterners who ARE U.S. citizens	Don't know
11/12/01	37	57	6

25b/25b2 Combo Table

	Support giving law enforcement broader authority to do any specified things			Oppose giving law enforcement broader authority to do any specified things
	NET	Should apply to Arabs or other of Middle Eastern descent who are not US citizens	Should also apply to those Middle Easterners who ARE US citizens
11/12/01	92	34	52	8

Congress has just passed a comprehensive anti-terrorism bill that expands law enforcement's powers to, among other things, wiretap telephones, track e-mail, and detain certain people.

26. One part of the anti-terrorism legislation would make it easier for law enforcement to get what's called "sneak and peek" search warrants. Usually, police must notify people at the time of a search, or at least leave a note saying they had conducted the search. Under the new law, however, police could enter someone's house or office and conduct a search without leaving any kind of notice. Do you favor or oppose this part of the law?

	Favor	Oppose	Don't know
11/12/01	40	58	2

(Asked of total who favor "sneak and peek" part of law; n = 498)

27a. Would you still favor it if it applied to everyone and not just suspected terrorists, or would you now oppose it?

	Yes, still favor it	No, now oppose it	Don't know
11/12/01	55	43	2

(Asked of total who oppose "sneak and peek" part of law; n = 681)

27b. Would you still oppose it if it applied only to suspected terrorists, or would you now favor it?

	Yes, still oppose it	No, now favor it	Don't know
11/12/01	38	60	2

26/27a/27b. Combo Table

	FAVOR			OPPOSE			Don't know
	NET	Even if applied to everyone	Only if applied to suspected terrorists	NET	Even if applied to suspected terrorists	Only if applied to everyone	Don't know
11/12/01	56	22	34	39	17	22	-

28. When the government investigators collect intelligence information about people -- from things like wiretaps and Grand Jury testimony -- they generally cannot share that information with law enforcement agencies unless they have a court's approval. Under the anti-terrorism bill, this sharing of information will be allowed without a court order. Do you favor or oppose this part of the law?

	Favor	Oppose	Don't know
11/12/01	70	25	4

(Asked of total who favor sharing of information without a court order; n = 866)

29a. Would you still favor it if it applied to everyone and not just suspected terrorists, or would you now oppose it?

	Yes, still favor it	No, now oppose it	Don't know
11/12/01	61	38	2

(Asked of total who oppose sharing of information without a court order; n = 295)

29b. Would you still oppose it if it applied only to suspected terrorists, or would you now favor it?

	Yes, still oppose it	No, now favor it	Don't know
11/12/01	48	51	*

28/29a/29b. Combo Table

	FAVOR			OPPOSE			Don't know
	NET	Even if applied to everyone	Only if applied to suspected terrorists	NET	Even if applied to suspected terrorists	Only if applied to everyone	Don't know
11/12/01	55	42	13	39	26	12	-

32. From what you know about the new anti-terrorism legislation, do you think that it will increase your security against terrorists, decrease your security against terrorists, or have no impact on this either way?

	Increase your security against terrorists	Decrease your security against terrorists	Have no impact on this either way	Don't know
11/12/01	66	5	24	4

33. How much confidence do you have in the US government to fairly administer the new anti-terrorist legislation--a great deal, a fair amount, not very much, or none at all?

	A great deal/A fair amount			Not very much/None at all			Don't know
	NET	A great deal	A fair amount	NET	Not very much	None at all	Don't know
11/12/01	82	25	58	17	14	3	1

34. From what you know about the new anti-terrorist legislation, do you think it threatens your own personal rights and freedoms or not?

	Yes	No	Don't know
11/12/01	32	65	3

(Asked of respondents who think anti-terrorist legislation threatens their own personal rights and freedoms; n = 380)

34a. Is this a MAJOR threat or a MINOR threat?

	Major threat	Minor threat	Don't know
11/12/01	36	62	3

34/34a. Combo Table

	New anti-terrorist legislation threatens your own personal rights and freedoms			New anti-terrorist legislation does not threaten your own personal rights and freedoms	Don't know
	NET	Major threat	Minor threat		Don't know
11/12/01	32	11	20	65	3

35. Thinking about the future, do you think law enforcement agencies will ever use their new powers to investigate (INSERT ITEM)?

	Yes	No	Don't know
a. anti- government militias	86	9	5
b. extra-marital affairs of people in public life	35	60	5
c. anti-abortion groups	49	44	7
d. anti-war groups	77	20	4
e. groups that advocate violent actions against the US	94	4	2
f. organized crime	87	10	2
g. anti-globalization protest groups	66	24	10

36. And, do you think law enforcement will ever use the new powers, which it has been given to fight terrorism, in order to find and prosecute (INSERT 1^st ITEM)? How about (INSERT NEXT ITEM), do you think law enforcement will ever use the new powers which it has been given to fight terrorism in order to find and prosecute (INSERT ITEM)?

(REPEAT ENTIRE QUESTION FOR EACH ITEM)

	Yes	No	Don't know
a. drug users	66	31	3
b. major tax violators	62	34	5
c. non-citizens who are in the country illegally	80	17	3
d. illegal gun dealers	83	15	2

(Asked of respondents who think law enforcement agencies will use their new powers to investigate/find and prosecute specified things; n = 1199)

36a. You said you expected law enforcement to use its new powers to investigate or prosecute some types of people not connected with the current terrorist attacks. Generally, do you think this is a good thing or a bad thing?

	Good thing	Bad thing	Both good and bad	Don't know
11/12/01	60	31	6	4

(Asked of respondents who think law enforcement agencies will use their new powers to investigate specified things; n = 1191)

	Good thing	Bad thing	Both good and bad	Don't know
11/12/01	59	31	6	4

(Asked of respondents who think law enforcement agencies will use their new powers to find and prosecute specified things; n = 1141)

	Good thing	Bad thing	Both good and bad	Don't know
11/12/01	60	31	6	4

35/36/36a. Combo Table

	Law enforcement agencies will use their new powers to investigate/find and prosecute any of these				Law enforcement agencies will not use their new powers to investigate/find and prosecute any of the	Don't know
	NET	Good thing	Bad thing	Good and bad thing		Don't know
11/12/01	99	59	30	6	1	*

Next: V. Other Non-Legislative Measures to Combat Terrorism

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