Title: Poll Shows Rising Support for Violence Among Americans

A recent poll indicates a growing number of Americans believe violence may be necessary to address the nation’s issues. The Marist Institute of Public Opinion conducted the survey of 1,477 adults in partnership with NPR and PBS News last week. The results reveal that 30% of respondents either agreed (19%) or strongly agreed (11%) with the statement that "Americans may have to resort to violence in order to get the country back on track." This marks an 11-point increase from a similar poll conducted in March 2024.

The increase in support for violence is primarily driven by Democrats. In the earlier poll, only 12% of Democrats agreed with the statement, while that figure has now risen to 28%. In contrast, Republican support for the idea remains relatively stable, with 31% agreeing, a slight increase of three points since 2024. Despite this rise, a significant majority, 70%, still oppose violence as a solution, with 36% expressing strong disagreement.

The poll also assessed perceptions of the country’s direction. Currently, 62% of respondents believe the nation is heading in the wrong direction, up from 54% in March 2025. This sentiment is particularly strong among Democrats, with 90% indicating the country is off course, compared to 78% of Republicans who feel the opposite. Notably, 22% of Republicans now believe the nation is moving in the wrong direction, an increase from 13% in March.

The survey results come amid heightened tensions following several violent incidents, including the assassination of conservative figure Charlie Kirk in Utah and the murders of two Democratic lawmakers in Minnesota. The poll also explored views on politically motivated violence, with 77% of respondents identifying it as a significant issue. Republicans (84%) were more likely than Democrats (72%) to view it as a major problem, while only 4% of respondents dismissed it as a non-issue.

When asked about concerns regarding political violence, respondents were nearly evenly split on whether violence against public officials or protesters was more alarming. Republicans tended to express greater concern for violence against officials, while Democrats were more worried about violence against protesters.

The poll further examined opinions on gun violence and rights. About 90% of Democrats prioritized controlling gun violence over protecting gun owner rights, while 73% of Republicans favored the latter. Additionally, 52% of respondents supported the deployment of the National Guard to cities to assist local law enforcement, with 89% of Republicans in favor and 76% of Democrats opposed.

On the topic of free speech, 79% of respondents felt the U.S. has overreached in restricting it. This sentiment was shared by 88% of Democrats and 64% of Republicans. Only 15% of respondents, including 22% of Republicans, believed the federal government should play a significant role in regulating free speech. The poll indicated that Congress is viewed more favorably than the presidency regarding decisions on free speech.

The nationwide poll was conducted via phone, text, and online, with a margin of error of 3.1 percentage points. Full survey data is available online.