The image of the militia as ordinary people coming together in times of crisis to help their fellow citizens is deeply embedded in American society and culture. Recent claimants to the militia title have adopted this image even as they have promoted a radically anti-government, populist conservative political agenda. Author Lane Crothers uses social movement theory to explore militia activity and ideology throughout the last decade, illuminating why militia members are enraged by U.S. governmental policies and why their rage is unlikely to coalesce into a large political movement.