Seventy-three percent (73%) of Texas voters say Major Nadal Malik Hasan should receive the death penalty if he is convicted of last week’s massacre at Ford Hood, Texas.

A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Lone Star State voters finds that only 15% do not believe Hasan should be sentenced to death if convicted. Thirteen percent (13%) are not sure.

The survey was taken on Wednesday night. On Thursday, military prosecutors charged Hasan with 13 counts of premeditated murder. If convicted, he is eligible for the death penalty.

Voters in Texas overwhelmingly think the Fort Hood shootings should be investigated by military authorities as a terrorist attack rather than by civilian authorities as a criminal act – by a 74% to 16% margin.

Nationally, 60% of voters say last week's shootings at Fort Hood should be investigated by military authorities as a terrorist act.

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

Eighty-four percent (84%) of Texas voters say the Army should remove from active duty all officers like Hasan who try to make contact with radical terrorist organizations such as al Qaeda. Only six percent (6%) disagree.

Slightly fewer voters (76%) nationally support the immediate removal from active duty of any officers reaching out to radical terrorist groups.

In Texas, 58% of voters are at least somewhat concerned that the shooting at Fort Hood will prompt a backlash against Muslims serving in the military, with 27% who are very concerned. Forty-one percent (41%) are not very or not at all concerned about any such backlash. These numbers are roughly identical to those found nationally.

Seventy-nine percent (79%) of male voters in Texas say Hasan should receive the death penalty if convicted, compared to 67% of women voters.

Republicans and voters not affiliated with either party favor the death penalty for Hasan much more strongly than Democrats.

Eighty-six percent (86%) of Texas GOP voters and 81% of unaffiliateds say the Fort Hood shootings should be investigated by military authorities as a terrorist act, a view shared by just 53% of Democrats.

Forty-four percent (44%) of Democrats are very concerned about a possible backlash against other Muslims serving in the military, compared to just 16% of Republicans and 23% of unaffiliated voters.

Only 16% of voters nationwide say America’s relationship with the Muslim world will be better one year from now. That's the lowest level measured all year.

Sixty-one percent (61%) of Americans favor the death penalty. Twenty-three percent (23%) oppose capital punishment, and 16% are not sure.

However, 73% are at least somewhat concerned that some people may be executed for crimes they did not commit. Forty percent (40%) are very concerned.

Please sign up for the Rasmussen Reports daily e-mail update (it’s free) or follow us on Twitter or Facebook. Let us keep you up to date with the latest public opinion news.

See survey questions and toplines. Crosstabs and are available to Premium Members.