Last month, a group of ten men met in Central Florida, seeking to hone their marksmanship skills. Some were clad in camouflage, while others wore vests laden with ammunition for their AR-15 rifles. They gathered under the cool shade of oak trees, eager to learn tactics typically employed by Special Operations forces and elite law enforcement units.

Their instructor, Christopher Eric Roscher, an Air Force veteran, began the session by introducing himself. He then led the group in a prayer, seeking divine guidance and protection. The prayer invoked the idea of these men becoming protectors in a world perceived as filled with evil.

The participants were not affiliated with the military, law enforcement, or any right-wing militia. The group consisted primarily of civilians, representing a diverse range of professions. Among them were two pilots, a nurse, and a construction company executive. The class itself was titled "Full Contender Minuteman," a reference to the civilian soldiers of the American Revolution.