Current Opinion on nuclear weapons in the U.S. and the world.
Currently in the United States there are many strong conflicting views on the use of nuclear weapons. Many believe that nuclear weapons are essential in preventing attacks on the United States and our allies. On the other hand there are many people who believe that nuclear weapons will be what ends the world. In a poll done by CNN 12% of people believe that nuclear war is very likely to occur in the next decade. In another poll done by vanity fair 35% of americans believe that nuclear war will be what puts and end to humanity.
In recent years North Korea has become one of the most unstable nuclear powers in the modern world. In the past year the president of the United States has ramped up tensions with North Korea in a series of threats at rallies, in tweets, and in presidential speeches. North Korea has also upped their rhetoric by threatening to fire nuclear weapons at Guam, as well as shooting a missile over Japan into the Pacific Ocean. With the rhetoric being spouted by the president many senators have questioned whether they should take his absolute authority to launch a nuclear strike away from him.
Another recent development regarding nuclear non proliferation was the signing of a bill that would ban all nuclear weapons. The bill was signed by 56 nations in an effort to convince the U.S. and their allies to sign as well. The U.S. did not sign the bill as well as the nations that are protected by their nuclear weapons, more commonly known as the United States nuclear umbrella. Some these nations include Britain, France, and South Korea, whose ambassadors declined to take any questions on the matter.