The articles linked to above did absolutely nothing to clarify the issue.

"Would you watch Osama Bin Laden's execution if it were televised?" and "Should executions be televised?" are entirely different types of questions. Data about second cannot be extrapolated from answers to the first.

Most people would probably answer "Yes" to, "If someone were raping your daughter and you had a gun, would you shoot them?" But ask, "Would you buy a gun just in case someone might decide to rape your daughter?" and you'll get entirely different results.

Bruce