LONG BRANCH, N.J. (1010 WINS) — New Jersey voters see the threat of domestic terrorism as being more prevalent than that of foreign terrorism, according to a Monmouth University poll released Tuesday.
About two-thirds of the state’s voters (67%) said the threat caused by domestic terror groups presents a greater threat to the American public than those in foreign countries, the poll showed.
The majorities of Democrats (80%), Independents (66%) and Republicans (51%) agreed that domestic terrorism is a greater threat.
“We don’t have trend numbers on this particular question, but it is likely that events of the last few years, including the attack on the U.S. Capitol in January, have focused terrorism concerns on threats emerging from within our borders,” said Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute.
Just under 40% of voters said they feel safer from foreign terror attacks than they did prior to Sept. 11, 2001. About 28% of voters said they feel less safe.
Meanwhile, 37% of New Jersey voters said they view New York City as being safer than it was 20 years ago, while 27% said it was less safe.
In terms of taking care of 9/11 first responders, just 14% of New Jersey voters said the U.S. government has done enough for then, while 40% said more still needs to be done.
A massive majority of those polled said they are aware that the 20th anniversary of 9/11 is approaching, and 18% noted that they think about the terror attacks on a regular basis, while 56% said they think about it “from time to time.”
One in five voters said they will do something to mark the 20th anniversary of the attacks.
The poll was conducted with a sample size of 810 registered voters just before the United States completed its withdrawal from Afghanistan.