As voting day approaches, security experts are warning of the potential for political violence in the weeks after the vote. A recent national poll conducted by University of Chicago political scientist Robert Pape highlights problematic attitudes toward the use of violence in American politics.
The poll found that 8% of respondents believed the use of force to stop Donald Trump from becoming president was justified. One-third of those who supported this view said they owned a firearm. Conversely, 6% of those surveyed expressed support for the use of force to restore Trump to office, and half of this group also reported owning a gun.
A new Scripps News poll conducted in partnership with IPSOS found that 62% of Americans believe violence related to political results will occur after Election Day. Surprisingly, the poll also revealed that 8% of respondents want their candidate to win by any means necessary, even if it involves violence. .
Mr. Pape noted that this growing acceptance of political violence is a worrying trend.
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“This violent populism is becoming our new normal,” Pape said. “Violent protests like this can emerge very quickly, and lone wolf attacks like this can appear out of nowhere,” he said. “There are concerns that the situation could be quite severe after that, and indeed for several months.”
Further research supports these findings. A report from the Violence Prevention Research Program at the University of California, Davis, found that nearly 14% of Americans strongly believe that a civil war could occur in the United States within the next few years.
Furthermore, nearly 8% of respondents indicated that they believed political violence could soon be justified and expressed an intention to take up arms.
Pape emphasized the dangers of this environment, warning: And by lone wolf, I basically mean domestic terrorist or lone wolf attacks. Together, I mean, believe me, it’s bad enough. I call this violent populism, and this is what we can expect in the coming months and perhaps years. ”
These statistics highlight the urgent need to reassess the current political climate and its impact on public safety and democratic debate. Experts are calling for a renewed focus on de-escalation strategies and community dialogue to address the underlying issues contributing to the increased acceptance of violence in political discourse.
As tensions rise in the run-up to the election, the potential for instability remains a significant concern for officials and the public.
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