In the aftermath of a severe winter storm in February that nearly caused Texas’ independent power grid to collapse, numerous residents faced life-threatening conditions without adequate state assistance. The storm left millions of Texans in darkness during one of the coldest winters on record, with temperatures dipping below zero in some areas. Many were confined to poorly insulated homes as water pipes froze and burst, flooding interiors and compounding the crisis. Reports indicated that hundreds of people died from exposure, often after exhausting all available clothing to keep warm. Emergency warnings and guidance were largely absent, forcing residents to rely on improvised solutions such as using furniture for firewood.

The events followed a period of heightened political tension in Texas, marked by Attorney General Ken Paxton’s efforts to challenge the 2020 presidential election results and his public participation in the January 6 Capitol rally. That rally drew a significant number of participants from Texas, including several from the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Concurrently, the state experienced a rise in hate crimes targeting nonwhite, LGBTQ, and other marginalized communities.

One resident affected by these circumstances was Zachary Evetts, an engineer from suburban Waxahachie. Although his home maintained power during the grid failure, he closely monitored outages and became deeply concerned about the state’s response to the crisis. Known for his focus on safety and preparedness, Evetts began stockpiling supplies and purchasing a rifle, citing fears of escalating unrest. In interviews conducted after his arrest, he expressed anxieties about potential civil conflict and drew parallels to historical instances of social breakdown.

Evetts, who had volunteered for Bernie Sanders’s 2016 presidential campaign and identified with progressive values, sought connection and purpose through community organizing. He engaged in mutual aid efforts around Dallas-Fort Worth, distributing water, firewood, and food to homeless populations in partnership with groups such as Food Not Bombs. He also joined the local chapter of the Socialist Rifle Association (S.R.A.), a nonprofit gun rights organization that positions itself as a counterpoint to traditional firearms groups like the National Rifle Association.

The S.R.A., established in 2018, advocates for gun safety alongside social support initiatives, including disaster relief, trauma medicine, and community aid. The group emphasizes solidarity against systemic challenges associated with capitalism, adopting the slogan “We Keep Us Safe.” Its membership has increased partly as a response to environmental and political instability, reflecting broader concerns across the United States about public safety, governance, and social cohesion following recent crises.