(The Center Square) – Roughly the same percentage of North Carolinians who opposed the president sending the National Guard to Charlotte or Durham worry about their safety when there, a poll released Tuesday says.
Support or opposition of second-term Republican President Donald Trump sending guard members was 47% opposed and 42% in support. Also asked by the Elon University Poll about concerns for personal safety if spending time in particular cities, Charlotte and Durham were each at 49% for very or somewhat concerned, Winston-Salem was 42% and Raleigh and Greensboro each 41%.
The Elon University Poll sampled 800 adults age 18 and older in the state from Sept. 23 to Oct. 1, returning a margin of error of +/- 4.24%. Events occurring not long before or during were the Charlotte light rail stabbing that took the life of Iryna Zarutska and a waterfront bar shooting in Southport. The poll also asked questions related to Charlie Kirk.
Kirk founded Turning Point USA, promoted respectful open debate on any issue, and sided most with faith-based conservatives. He was shot and killed at a rally in Utah on Sept. 10.
“After high-profile violent incidents close to home, many North Carolinians are evaluating how safe they feel in the state’s major cities as well as everyday spaces, from schools to transit systems to shopping centers,” said Jason Husser, director of the poll. “Republicans tended to be much more concerned than Democrats about crime in the states’ large cities and on public transportation and in public spaces.”
Trump has called up guard members to Washington, Los Angeles, Portland and Chicago. The nation’s capital had 17% less violent crime in the first 30 days. The poll had more opposition than support to specifically send the Guard to Charlotte (47%-43%), Durham (46%-41%), Raleigh (48%-40%), Greensboro (49%-38%) and Winston-Salem (48%-38%).
The sampling said the areas of highest safety concerns are outdoors with crowds (61%), public transportation (59%), public places like shopping malls (53%) and K-12 schools (49%).
More respondents than not said state, county and local lawmen should assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in enforcing federal immigration laws (46%-40%).
Related to Kirk, 45% say statements celebrating his killing should not lead to job loss; 34% said it should and 21% were unsure.
Asked about consequences getting better, worse or going unchanged, 68% said political violence will get worse; 61% say relations between Democrats and Republicans will get worse; 51% say freedom of speech will get worse; 48% say the average person’s knowledge about politics will go unchanged; and 64% say there’ll be no change in political disagreements among family and friends.
