NEW HAVEN, Conn., Aug. 3 (UPI) -- More than half of Americans support so-called stand your ground laws that permit people to use deadly force if they are threatened, a poll found.
Fifty-three percent of those surveyed in the Quinnipiac University poll said they favored such laws, The Hill reported Friday. Another 40 percent opposed the laws, while 7 percent were undecided.
The poll found divisions about the laws along racial and gender lines.
White people supported the state laws 57 percent to 37 percent, while the numbers were the exact opposite for black individuals.
Sixty-two percent of men supported the laws, with 34 percent of males against them. Among women, 44 percent were in favor, with 47 percent opposed.
Based on the divided opinions found by the poll, "it's unlikely the movement to repeal 'Stand Your Ground' laws will be successful in most of the country," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
The survey of 1,468 registered voters was conducted July 28-31. The margin of error was 2.6 percentage points.
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