Gunsights' biblical references concern US and UK forces

[BardonGaruda]

Coded references to biblical passages are inscribed on gunsights widely used by the US and British military in Iraq and Afghanistan, it has emerged.

The markings include "2COR4:6" and "JN8:12", relating to verses in the books of Corinthians II and John.

Trijicon, the US-based manufacturer, was founded by a devout Christian, and says it runs to "Biblical standards".

But military officials in the US and UK have expressed concern over the way the markings will be perceived.

The company has added the references to its sights for many years, but the issue surfaced only recently when soldiers complained to an advocacy group.

Raised lettering

Versions of Trijicon's Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight (Acog) are used by the US Special Operations Forces, the US Marine Corps and the US Army.

Many soldiers know of them and are very confused as to why they are there and what it is supposed to mean

US soldier, quoted by Military Religious Freedom Foundation
Britain's Ministry of Defence has just ordered 480 Acog sights for use on its new Sharpshooter rifles - to be used by troops in Afghanistan. Other versions of the Acog sight are "widely in service", the ministry says.

The inscriptions are subtle and appear in raised lettering at the end of the stock number.

John 8:12 reads: "When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

The nod to part of the second letter of Paul to the Corinthians, found on the company's Reflex sight, references the text: "For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ."

An MoD spokesman told the BBC the ministry appreciated the biblical references could cause offence and was talking to its supplier, but was "not aware at the time of purchase that these markings had any broader significance".

'Propaganda tool'

The US Defense Department is a major customer of Trijicon's, signing deals for $66m (£40.3m) of the company's products in 2009 alone.

The US Marine Corps told the BBC they were "concerned with how this may be perceived" and were meeting with the company to "discuss future sight procurements".


We believe that America is great when its people are good. This goodness has been based on biblical standards throughout our history and we will strive to follow those morals

Trijicon
The US Army said it was looking into any potential policy violation.

The issue has been thrust into the spotlight by the US Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) - an advocacy group that seeks to preserve the separation of church and state in the military.

On 14 January, the MRFF received an e-mail, purportedly from a Muslim US Army infantryman, complaining about the markings.

"Many soldiers know of them and are very confused as to why they are there and what it is supposed to mean."

The email adds: "Everyone is worried that if they were captured in combat that the enemy would use the Bible quotes against them in captivity or some other form of propaganda."

MRFF president Mikey Weinstein says the inscriptions could give the Taliban and other enemy forces a propaganda tool.

"I don't have to wonder for a nanosecond how the American public would react if citations from the Koran were being inscribed onto these US armed forces gunsights instead of New Testament citations," he said.

A Trijicon spokesman told the BBC the company "has been working to provide America's military men and women with high quality, innovative sighting systems for the weapons they use".

"Our effort is simple and straightforward: to help our servicemen and women win the war on terror and come home safe to their families.

"As part of our faith and our belief in service to our country, Trijicon has put scripture references on our products for more than two decades.

"As long as we have men and women in danger, we will continue to do everything we can to provide them with both state-of-the-art technology and the never-ending support and prayers of a grateful nation," the spokesman added.

The company states on its website: "We believe that America is great when its people are good. This goodness has been based on biblical standards throughout our history and we will strive to follow those morals."

Never knew they put these on the gunsights until I read this.

from the BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8468981.stm

[Plow]

Coded references to biblical passages are inscribed on gunsights widely used by the US and British military in Iraq and Afghanistan, it has emerged.

no biased reporting attempting to skew opinions here, nosiree

[Demosthenes11]

i saw this story and immediately thought if i met someone offended by that i might flip shit

[miokomioko]

I am so deeply offended by In-N-Out Burger's biblical references hidden on their greasy food wrappers as well.

[Sol-Blackguy]

Obviously you're supposed to recite those passages before you pop somene's head off to look more badass than you already are.

Should have put Ezekiel 25:17 on the sights:

'The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides with the iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who in the name of charity and good will shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon those with great vengeance and with furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know that my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee.'

[Khajit]

Did someone call for Boondock saints?

[Plow]

I must admit I do see the humor and idiocy in a company started by super religious people to make better killing machines... and stamping them with bible quotes, and it is pretty epic.

[Jaybar]

The only offense I can see protruding from this is another "Religious War". I do find the passages very fitting, though.

[MF Perm tha Fineass]

That shit adds fuel to the extremist fire, I don't think soldiers or anyone is offended, just trying to preserve tactical impedence against extremists stoking the flames saying it's the Christians and Jews in a war against Islam.

It's retarded for a secular government to have religious anything on combat gear in a region that so religiously unstable. The motherfuckers think Jews are demons for christs sake.

[Kuya]

a region that so religiously unstable

lol

[Ksandra]

i saw this story and immediately thought if i met someone offended by that i might flip shit

agreed.

[Neosutra]

Start flipping shit Demo, because it is fucking retarded. It doesnt bother me that it is there (because I find it fucking appropriate for a christian company to make weapons to kill muslims all the while proclaiming to be "better"), what bothers me is that it hurts our argument that we are not a zealous religious army on a holy war. I'd cancel their contract in a heartbeat.

[TheShadyMan]

Cool, here I was thinking my tax money was being spent on stupid war shit, but apparently its being spent on stupid war shit with stupid bible shit on it. Neato.

[Demosthenes11]

religion is offensive

[TheShadyMan]

I don't need to justify my distaste.

[Demosthenes11]

"i dont mind you being religious as long as you dont force it down other peoples' throats"
"WTF A BIBLE MESSAGE HARDLY VISIBLE ON A GUN I SHOOT"

cmon i think everyone can laugh at that

[MF Perm tha Fineass]

And when a soldier is captured and this is found on their gun, extremists now have even more propaganda.

It's common sense, not atheism, at play here.

[Ksandra]

extremists now have even more propaganda.

so?

[MF Perm tha Fineass]

so?

So if you turn 500 people willing to blow themselves up in the name of Allah, you now have 750, or 1000, or 2000.

Because devout Muslims that aren't extreme now believe themselves to be in another holy war fighting for their religious land from invading Christians, again.

[archibaldcrane]

If we're dropping $60 million dollar contracts on gun manufacturers, it should be a piece of fucking cake to say "hey, and stop spending extra time and money to inscribe biblical passages on the sights".

If that request isn't the end of the conversation, then that company doesn't deserve a military contract.