O-SenseA quarter of Idahoans support the armed protesters who took over a federal wildlife area in Eastern Oregon, a new Idaho Politics Weekly finds.
But 61 percent oppose those actions, which since the poll was conducted has seen one protester shot dead by law enforcement, the leaders under arrest, at four others still hold up in the Burns, Oregon, facility.
Pollster Dan Jones & Associates finds that 25 percent “strongly” or “somewhat” support the actions of the protesters, who say they want federal lands returned to local control.
Fourteen percent said they have no opinion concerning the standoff.
Asked if federal lands in Idaho should be turned over to state control, Idahoans are split:
- 48 percent oppose the idea, keep the lands under federal control.
- 42 percent favor the state taking control of federal lands.
- 11 percent don’t know.
Republicans in Idaho favor taking the federal lands, 51-39 percent.
Democrats are against it, 72-19 percent.
And political independents are mixed, 43 percent said to take the federal lands, 47 percent say no.
Jones polled 621 adults from Jan. 21-31, with a margin of error plus or minus 3.93 percent.
