It wouldn't be the first time the secession of Texas from the rest of the United States has been brought up. This time it may be a little different. The petition on the White Hous's web site has already far surpassed the 25 thousand needed for the White House to address the secession.
Resident Janine Scott says "I don't really think it's feasible." Despite having over 117 thousand signatures, it's going to take more than a petition to make Texas it's own nation.
Resident Mike Smith says "it's been brought up before, it's been tried before. Honestly I don't think the United States government would even allow it." Attorney Curtis Parrish agrees, saying "I think the response would be no thank you but we will continue to work with you and we respect the state of Texas as being part of our union."
Neither the US nor Texas constitutions say explicitly whether Texas would be able to secede from the United States. Ever since a petition was begun, just after president Obama's re-election, it has only gained momentum. Currently there are over 117 thousand signatures.
Robert DeVet and other people we spoke to says "The election was part of the democratic process that we are all part of you know in this nation and if it doesn't work out for some people that's just how the process works." Kyle Shuller agrees just because people may not agree with the outcome of the election "taking it to the extreme of seceding from you know the United States of America just doesn't even really seem like not only the wisest decision but a really well thought out rational decision either."
Opinion on the Texas Tech campus are that secession just isn't realistic or even a good idea. Smith goes on to say "the benefits of statehood probably far outweigh the benefits of being a new independent country these days" and Scott agrees, ""it doesn't seem like a practical solution because of the lack of resources that would come with that decision."
Parrish says he is actually surprised there aren't more signatures based on Tax stereotypes saying ""the state of Texas has always been an independently minded state, and our leadership in Texas has always presented itself as being independently minded as well. So that when we see things that are going on in Washington that seem counter to what we think of in Texas the way things should be, you're going to hear these kinds of talks about secession."
Scott was so against the idea she said if the state seceded, she would too, "in the event that that did happen, which I don't think that it will. I probably would not be living in Texas anymore." The White house is required to respond to the petition based on the number of signatures. They have to do so by December 9th.
Larry Scott Kilgore from Arlington, Texas announced he will be running for governor of Texas in the 2014 election with an agenda to secede. The headline at the top of his web page says "Secession! All other issues can be dealt with later." He has also decided to legally change his middle name to SECEDE, spelled with all capital letters.
