Poll: 4 in 10 Students Back Prosecuting Speech
19th October 2026
Four in 10 college students say offensive speech should be subject to criminal prosecution, the highest share in the three years the question has been asked, according to an Inquire survey sponsored by the Buckley Institute.
The survey of 803 full-time undergraduates at four-year colleges found 40% agreed that offensive speech should be prosecuted as a crime, while 52% disagreed and 9% were unsure. Support rose from 33% last year and 31% in 2024.
Thirteen percent strongly agreed and 26% somewhat agreed.
I would be in favor of raising the voting age to 24. That’s about the time when kids get over being stupid, as insurance rates plainly show.