Should America deploy space weapons to proactively defend national security, or try to avoid placing weapons in orbit to head off a global arms war?

Deploy space weapons (32%) – "It is better to have something and not need it than to need something and not have it. If it deters would be attackers and keeps our country and our military safe, then it is well worth the money, time, and effort to make it happen."

• "The American republic deserves to protect its national security. It isn't really proactive, its protective of American security and intelligence."

"These types of weapons have likely been launched into space by the US, China, and Russia by now—we're just the first to acknowledge it publicly. It's naive to think our enemies will slow their efforts, so it's best to be prepared. You can't have global deterrence via mutually assured destruction (like our nuclear weapons situation) if one side lacks the capabilities in the first place."

Avoid space weapons (49%) – "The weaponization of space has long felt inevitable, yet it was always possible for humanity to choose otherwise, at least a little longer. I am not surprised, just disappointed."

• "This will lead to a highly dangerous "Space Arms Race". We put up stuff in orbit, the Chinese and/or the Russians put up military armed satellites.... rinse and repeat. And another danger is are the aiming and systems controls so fine-tuned that only military satellites are targeted? And what's to prevent rogue actors like North Korea or Iran or a terrorist group from doing this too. And the expense in terms of scientific talent and money that would be better devoted to peaceful study is potentially enormous. It's a dangerous and reckless policy, far better to "demilitarize" near Earth space than arm it to the teeth with potentially frightening outcome."

"I think we need to move closer to world peace, and with all the combat and war we have on Earth, that’s enough as it is. We don’t need to move it to space and risk not only destroying the Earth, but also other planted or moons in our solar system and further."

• "Why do we have to militarize everything?? If we put up space weapons then the Russians and Chinese are going to too. Also, there is enpugh floating space junk up there already, lets not add space trash with lasers."

"If nobody launches weapons into space, nobody will launch weapons into space. We don't need to be the first ones to launch weapons into space, even if they are just jammers or lasers because the satellites in space control a lot more than just military control. WifFi and other things almost everyone uses in their day to day life is only capable through satellites so far, so if we launch weapons into space, other countries will launch weapons into space which could essentially destroy technology in a country, at least temporarily. Plus, this entire thing sounds far too much like the nuclear weapons back during the Cold War. No one would have nuclear weapons if no one started producing them. Every country is currently in agreement that we will not launch weapons into space, so when America launches weapons into space, even if they're not nuclear weapons, EVERYONE will launch weapons into space."

Unsure/other (19%) – "I hate to think of another venue for arms races, but now that it has started I don't think it can be stopped. I do not think it was necessary or wise."

• "I'm ok with the US having weapons in space AS LONG AS THEY ARE FOR DEFENSIVE USE ONLY and would only be used for retaliation."