The Moral Careers of Militia Group Participants: A Case Study

This article is a case study examining the moral careers of members of a constitutional militia group in a Deep South state. Data for this study were gathered through participant observation and interviews with members at meetings, gun shows, shooting ranges, and other activities engaged in by members of this group. This research focuses on how group participants come to identify themselves as members. A typology of true believers, verbal converts, and fellow travelers was developed based on levels of involvement, the potential for violence is discussed, and the findings are framed within the sociological literature.