r/texashistory

I'm writing an alternate history of the Waco siege and I'm looking for a map that covers not just the compound itself but also the police roadblocks, T-shirt Hill, the protest camp etc...

So I’m from North Jersey, been in the NYC orbit my whole life. Spent about a year living in Texas and I’m honestly confused how it has this whole “land of freedom, don’t tread on me” reputation.
Yeah, guns are wide open down there, no question. But outside of that, it felt way more controlled than back home.
You’ve got the abortion situation where they basically shut it down after around six weeks with that “heartbeat” law and let random people sue over it. That wiped out most real access in a huge state. I always thought “freedom” meant the government not being all up in your medical decisions, but they’re literally writing laws around what people can do with their own bodies.
Then there’s voting. They pushed through that big bill tightening up voting rules — killing stuff like drive‑thru and 24‑hour voting that made it easier for people, especially in big urban counties, to actually cast a ballot. Harder voting doesn’t really scream “freedom” to me, it just feels like picking who you want to show up.
On top of that, the attitude toward LGBTQ stuff felt way harsher than what I’m used to in Jersey. There’s constant fights over what can be taught about gay people in schools, what books are allowed in libraries, even what kind of events or performances are acceptable. You can feel this push to shove anything gay‑related out of public spaces, especially around kids. That’s not “small government” to me, that’s the state deciding whose existence is acceptable and where.
Meanwhile, back in Jersey, it’s not some perfect utopia, but it genuinely feels more live‑and‑let‑live. People argue, sure, but day to day you don’t have the state micromanaging your reproductive choices, what your kid learns, or whether a book about gay people is allowed on a shelf.
What really threw me off in Texas was the disconnect between the branding and the policies. Culturally, it’s all “freedom,” “personal responsibility,” “get the government off my back.” But then in practice you’ve got the government jumping in on abortion, voting, and what kind of identities and relationships are allowed to be visible in public life. The only area that truly felt wide‑open was guns.
I’m not trying to trash everyone who loves Texas — I met some great people and there’s a lot to like: food, music, cost of living, all that. I’m just genuinely trying to understand how the “freedom state” thing makes sense when, coming from Jersey, it felt way more restrictive on pretty much everything except firearms.
Is this just a different definition of “freedom” down there? Like, is it mostly “freedom to own guns and run your business how you want,” and not “freedom to live your personal life without the state stepping in”? Or am I missing some big cultural piece here?