Officiant: “One comes before us today who wishes to become a Sworn Brother. Let him approach.”

Officiant: “Are there two Brothers present who will affirm that the candidate is of sound mind and good character, being aware that the penalty for error in this judgment is expulsion and disgrace?”

Upon hearing affirmations, the officiant continues:

“Very well. Aspirant. Take your firearm in your dominant hand. Raise it in the posture I now demonstrate, and repeat after me. After each line, the assembled Brothers will affirm with one voice.”

My gun protects the weak. SO MOTE IT BE! My gun speaks for liberty. SO MOTE IT BE! My gun defends myself, my neighbors and my nation. SO MOTE IT BE! My gun guards civilization. SO MOTE IT BE! With this oath I become a Sworn Brother of the Order of Defenders. SO MOTE IT BE! I will defend, and teach others to defend themselves. SO MOTE IT BE! I will shoot neither in anger nor haste nor from any sort of intoxication, but in grave knowledge of the consequences. SO MOTE IT BE! When a Sworn Brother calls for aid in defending, I will answer. SO MOTE IT BE! These things I swear by all I hold sacred. SO MOTE IT BE!

Following the initiation, all repair to a shooting range for convivial practice.

I wrote the above after thinking about Rudyard Kipling’s Ritual of the Iron Ring for newly-graduated engineers.

Rituals like this exist to express and formalize what is best in us.

The Order of Defenders does not exist. Perhaps it should.