Poll Watch: SurveyUSA Tampa-St. Petersburg Survey on Florida's 'Stand Your Ground' Law and Trayvon Martin

SurveyUSA Tampa-St. Petersburg Survey on Florida's 'Stand Your Ground' Law and Trayvon Martin

Is the "Stand Your Ground" law too broad? Too narrow? Or just right?

Among 648 Adults Familiar with Florida's "Stand Your Ground" Law

• Too broad 53%
• Too narrow 7%
• Just right 34%

Among Men

• Too broad 45%
• Too narrow 6%
• Just right 43%

Among Women

• Too broad 62%
• Too narrow 9%
• Just right 24%

Among Democrats

• Too broad 67%
• Too narrow 8%
• Just right 20%

Among Republicans

• Too broad 45%
• Too narrow 8%
• Just right 44%

Among Independents

• Too broad 48%
• Too narrow 7%
• Just right 38%

Among Liberals

• Too broad 74%
• Too narrow 9%
• Just right 16%

Among Moderates

• Too broad 61%
• Too narrow 9%
• Just right 26%

Among Conservatives

• Too broad 35%
• Too narrow 6%
• Just right 52%

A civilian, George Zimmerman, is accused of shooting Trayvon Martin. Are you aware that the "Stand Your Ground" law is being used to defend Zimmerman?

Among 590 Adults Familiar with Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law and Following News Stories about the Shooting of Trayvon Martin

• Yes 95%
• No 3%

Based upon what you know so far, was the shooting of Travyon Martin justified? Or Not justified?

Among 817 Adults Following News Stories about the Shooting of Trayvon Martin

• Justified 8%
• Not justified 80%

Among Blacks

• Justified 1%
• Not justified 91%

Among Hispanics

• Justified 16%
• Not justified 74%

Based on what you know so far, should Zimmerman be charged with murder? Be charged with a lesser crime? Or should Zimmerman not be charged with any crime?

Among 817 Adults Following News Stories about the Shooting of Trayvon Martin

• Murder 57%
• Lesser crime 28%
• Not be charged 6%

Among Democrats

• Murder 72%
• Lesser crime 23%
• Not be charged 2%

Among Republicans

• Murder 51%
• Lesser crime 30%
• Not be charged 6%

Among Independents

• Murder 48%
• Lesser crime 31%
• Not be charged 8%

Among Whites

• Murder 53%
• Lesser crime 31%
• Not be charged 5%

Among Blacks

• Murder 87%
• Lesser crime 10%
• Not be charged 3%

Among Hispanics

• Murder 63%
• Lesser crime 15%
• Not be charged 16%

Was the victim's race not a factor in this shooting? A small factor? Or a major factor?

Among 817 Adults Following News Stories about the Shooting of Trayvon Martin

• Not a factor 17%
• Small factor 21%
• Major factor 48%

Among Democrats

• Not a factor 7%
• Small factor 15%
• Major factor 65%

Among Republicans

• Not a factor 22%
• Small factor 20%
• Major factor 41%

Among Independents

• Not a factor 20%
• Small factor 27%
• Major factor 36%

Among Liberals

• Not a factor 11%
• Small factor 8%
• Major factor 64%

Among Moderates

• Not a factor 12%
• Small factor 23%
• Major factor 52%

Among Conservatives

• Not a factor 27%
• Small factor 23%
• Major factor 34%

Among Whites

• Not a factor 17%
• Small factor 22%
• Major factor 45%

Among Blacks

• Not a factor 4%
• Small factor 6%
• Major factor 86%

Among Hispanics

• Not a factor 22%
• Small factor 21%
• Major factor 33%

Based on what you know, was the shooting of Trayvon Martin a hate crime?

Among 817 Adults Following News Stories about the Shooting of Trayvon Martin

• Yes 29%
• No 37%

Among Men

• Yes 24%
• No 44%

Among Women

• Yes 34%
• No 30%

Among Democrats

• Yes 43%
• No 22%

Among Republicans

• Yes 22%
• No 46%

Among Independents

• Yes 24%
• No 43%

Among Whites

• Yes 25%
• No 39%

Among Blacks

• Yes 53%
• No 20%

Among Hispanics

• Yes 50%
• No 40%

Based upon what you know, should the Sanford, Florida police chief keep his job? Or be removed from his job?

Among 817 Adults Following News Stories about the Shooting of Trayvon Martin

• Keep his job 30%
• Removed 47%

Among Liberals

• Keep his job 14%
• Removed 58%

Among Moderates

• Keep his job 28%
• Removed 48%

Among Conservatives

• Keep his job 44%
• Removed 38%

Among Whites

• Keep his job 30%
• Removed 44%

Among Blacks

• Keep his job 16%
• Removed 72%

Among Hispanics

• Keep his job 35%
• Removed 53%

Survey of 1,000 adults in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Sarasota area, including subsamples of 648 familiar with Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law, 590 familiar with Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law and following news stories about the shooting of Trayvon Martin, and 817 following news stories about the shooting of Trayvon Martin, was conducted March 23, 2012. The margin of error among all adults is +/- 3 percentage points. Party ID: 34% Republican; 34% Democrat; 29% Independent. Ideology: 42% Moderate; 30% Conservative; 18% Liberal. Race: 80% White; 9% Hispanic; 8% Black.