It seems that a lot of Americans don’t think that freedom of speech should be protected anymore.
A poll released Wednesday by YouGov has found that a small majority of the American public support limiting the First Amendment if it means banning hate speech.
The poll, conducted in early May, asked respondents whether they would support a law criminalizing “public comments intended to stir up hatred against a group based on such things as their race, gender, religion, ethnic origin, or sexual orientation.”
Of the 1,000 Americans surveyed, 41 percent said they supported such a federal law, while only 38 percent opposed it. Another 22 percent were unsure.
About 51 percent of those supporting the criminalization of speech considered themselves Democrats and 37 percent considered themselves Republicans.
The age divide among respondents was also interesting.
Those age 69 or older were the most supportive of a hate speech ban, followed closely by young people aged 18-29.
Middle-aged men were the most protective of free speech.
