RALEIGH, N.C. — Some Republican lawmakers have offered amendments to the North Carolina Constitution that would remove a provision prohibiting the state's secession from the U.S. and eliminate a reference to the federal government.
Each proposal filed Tuesday in the House would need support from three-fifths of both chambers of the General Assembly before the question could go to voters.
One measure seeks to remove language that says the state "shall ever remain a member of the American union."
Channel 9 spoke to people in uptown who were confused by the measure and said lawmakers should focus on other issues.
"There's crime, there's people that are homeless, there's people that are hungry," said one Charlotte resident.
Political analyst Dr. Michael Bitzer reviewed the bill and said it does open Pandora's Box to the idea of secession. But he believes the measure is a result of a hyper-polarized political environment. He believes the bill represents a push for states rights when governing power.
Channel 9 reached out to the bill's main sponsor, Rep. Bert Jones of Caswell and Rockingham. In an email he said he adamantly opposes secession and went on to say, "This bill would simply allow a vote of the citizens to decide if they want such a Constitutional prohibition in the Constitution or not."
The other bill focuses on language stating a citizen owes paramount allegiance to the U.S. Constitution and U.S. government. That proposal would eliminate the reference to the government.
Reps. Michael Speciale of New Bern, Larry Pittman of Concord and George Cleveland of Jacksonville are among the chief sponsors for both bills.
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Associated Press
