Americans support for death penalty hits 40-year low

A Gallup poll has revealed that the support for the death penalty has hit a 40-year low with only 60 percent Americans favoring to put convicted murderers to death.

The level of support among Americans for death penalty has dropped since 1972, from a high of 80 percent in 1994, and 69 percent in 2007, the Huffington Post reports.

According to the report, 81 percent of Republicans, 60 percent of independents, and 47 percent of Democrats favored the death penalty.

Managing editor Jeffrey M. Jones said six states have annulled death penalty laws completely since 2006.