This article interested me because I am seeking to understand. I live in Texas and support Beto O’Rourke for Governor. At a recent event in a small town a well armed group (displaying their AR-15s and holstered side arm pistols) poured motor oil on the steps leading to the meeting location and yelled at me that I was “evil” as I slipped and fell on the oiled steps. I was simply trying to go to a public meeting. The group had signs declaring allegiance to God and also their need for guns as defense against the perceived oppression by the US government which by their account has victimized them into justified outrage. I am for democracy — I think the group that yelled at me “you’re evil” doesn’t like the idea of governance by the people or the separation of church and state … my sense was they want their version of their religion to be both the only sanctioned and allowed religion and also the authoritarian government. Maybe I misunderstood. I don’t think most Texans or Americans are for that system of government (government by a religion) or that it would work well but there did not seem to be much openness to discussion. The underlying fears and unconscious motives must be strong and perceived existential to generate the passions as I experienced them, I hope we can recover some civility, compromise, good will and equilibrium.