I actually disagree with a LOT of what this article is saying. I mean sure, I hail from Texas, specifically Houston, and the article mentions we're "competing with Austin as tolerant meccas for transplants who prefer the Sun Belt to the Old South".

But what I disagree with might simply be an echo chamber effect; I don't see a lot of racism here in Houston, it's more of a play on the Golden Rule of Christianity: Don't fuck with someone how you wouldn't also want to be fucked with. That line doesn't see race. You can be white, black, brown...whatever, but if you cross the line with someone, be prepared to accept the consequences of said line crossing.

Additionally, I feel the author has played up the whole death penalty thing. It's not like Texas is looking at minor traffic tickets and shouting "SEND HIM TO THE CHAIR!". We're executing people that have done some SERIOUSLY TWISTED SHIT. I fully support the death penalty on the grounds that some people HONESTLY DESERVE IT. Sure, that sounds a little fucked, but to me, giving someone the death penalty is simply giving them an expedited form of a life sentence.

In short, this feels like an awfully biased, if not full blown editorial piece. I understand the author's position, and their right to an opinion, but I'll be damned if I can't disagree with it.