Survey: Support for First Amendment rebounding from post-Sept. 11 low

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Americans' support for First Amendment freedoms has returned to levels not seen since before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, an annual survey on the subject shows.

The survey released Monday found that 65 percent of respondents disagreed with the statement "the First Amendment goes too far in the rights it guarantees."

Thirty percent of respondents agreed with the statement.

Two years ago the response to the question in the survey was evenly split at 49 percent to 49 percent.

The First Amendment protects freedom of religion, speech and the press and Americans' right to assemble and petition the government for redress.

"Despite the ongoing war on terrorism worldwide and regular warnings from authorities about domestic attacks, a significant majority of Americans continue to support a free and open society," said Gene Policinski, acting director of the First Amendment Center.

The survey was conducted by the Nashville-based center in collaboration with American Journalism Review magazine.

One thousand respondents were surveyed by telephone between May 6 and June 6, 2004.

The sampling error was plus-or-minus 3 percentage points.

Other findings in the survey showed that Americans' support for First Amendment freedoms can be influenced by circumstances.

Large numbers of Americans would restrict speech that might offend racial or religious groups and would restrict music that might offend anyone.

Also, about four in 10 respondents said that the press in America has too much freedom.

Policinski said a current trend toward greater support for the First Amendment began last year.

"Most Americans have had another year to consider the values of free speech, and press, assembly and religion, and there's also been a great deal more discussion about why people are attacking this country and what we might lose," Policinski continued.