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Rifles used by U.S. troops include Bible verse inscriptions
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Enlarge By Sgt. Rasheen A. Douglas, AP

Combat rifle sights used by U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan carry references to Bible verses, stoking concerns about whether the inscriptions break a government rule that bars proselytizing by American troops.



WASHINGTON (AP) - Combat rifle sights used by U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan carry references to Bible verses, stoking concerns about whether the inscriptions break a government rule that bars proselytizing by American troops.
Military officials said the citations don't violate the ban and they won't stop using the telescoping sights, which allow troops to pinpoint the enemy day or night.

The contractor that makes the equipment, Trijicon, said the U.S. military has been a customer since 1995 and the company has never received any complaints about the Scripture citations.

"We don't publicize this," Tom Munson, Trijicon's director of sales and marketing, said in an interview. "It's not something we make a big deal out of. But when asked, we say, 'Yes, it's there."'

The inscriptions are subtle and appear in raised lettering at the end of the stock number. Trijicon's rifle sights use tritium, a radioactive form of hydrogen, to create light and help shooters hit what they're aiming for.


Markings on the Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight, which is standard issue to U.S. special operations forces, include "JN8:12," a reference to John 8:12: "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, 'I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life,"' according to the King James version of the Bible.

The Trijicon Reflex sight is stamped with 2COR4:6, a reference to part of the second letter of Paul to the Corinthians: "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ," the King James version reads.

Photos posted on a Defense Department website show Iraqi forces training with rifles equipped with the inscribed sights.

The Defense Department is a major customer of Trijicon's. In 2009 alone, the Marine Corps signed deals worth $66 million for the company's products. Trijicon's scopes and optical devices for guns range in cost from a few hundred dollars to $13,000, according to the company's website.

Mikey Weinstein, president of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, says the biblically inscribed sights could give the Taliban and other enemy forces a propaganda tool: that American troops are Christian crusaders invading Muslim countries.

"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 U.S. armed forces gun sights instead of New Testament citations," Weinstein said. The foundation is a nonprofit watchdog group opposed to religious favoritism within the military.

Weinstein said he has received complaints about the Scripture citations from active-duty and retired members of the military. He said he couldn't identify them because they fear retaliation.

A spokesman for U.S. Central Command, which manages military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, said the inscribed sights do not violate the ban on proselytizing because there is no effort to distribute the equipment beyond the U.S. troops who use them.

"This situation is not unlike the situation with U.S. currency," said the spokesman, Air Force Maj. John Redfield. "Are we going to stop using money because the bills have 'In God We Trust' on them? As long as the sights meet the combat needs of troops, they'll continue to be used."

Capt. Geraldine Carey, a Marine Corps spokeswoman, said Tuesday in an e-mailed statement that "we are aware of the issue and are concerned with how this may be perceived." Carey said Marine Corps acquisition officials plan to meet with Trijicon to discuss future purchases of the company's sights. The statement did not say what the nature of those discussions would be.

Gary Tallman, an Army spokesman, said the service was not aware of the nature of these markings and its acquisition experts are investigating to determine if Trijicon violated any procurement rules.

Munson, Trijicon's sales director, said the practice of putting Bible references on the sites began nearly 30 years ago by Trijicon's founder, Glyn Bindon, who was killed in a plane crash in 2003. His son Stephen, Trijicon's president, has continued the practice.

....saw that on Drudge a couple days ago

OMG ! We've offended the muslims again !
Now Trujicon will be crucified ....

BRGDS, A

'Islamic Religious Services Will Be Held at the Firing Range at 0800 Daily'

pete

The way I look at it is, it's their product, they can put whatever they want on it. Clearly somebody had to look at this thing at the DoD to approve it in the first place. It's just more namby pamby bs on behalf of the warm fuzzy liberals. Does the sightwork? Does it help us hit our targets? Does a few letters and number change anything? It was fine the way it was.

I'm a thinking adult, I hope that everybody in the military is a thinking adult. The sight won't just make anybody 'magically convert'. It won't send muslims to muslim hell if they're killed with it.

Miles Davis was a jerk, but he made good music, the guy who played Burt in Tremors is a huge anti-gun person in real-life, the Trijicon sight may have bible verses on it, but it's still a great product....

But you know what, none of those things keep me from liking the good music Miles Davis made, enjoying watching Tremors, or drooling over a scope I can never afford.

People just need to get over themselves. I know that was kinda rambly, but that's just my two cents.

I saw an article yesterday indicating the company caved and will not be putting the verse references on the sights anymore. Lord knows we don't want to offend any of the camel jockeys/towel heads. Why is it that Christians are the only ones that the PC commie warrior don't care if they offend. Could that be that we turn the other cheek instead of killing non believers. History has already shown that placating to tirants (e.g. Hitler by Chamberlain) does not work. The more you give in the more they want.

FR8dude , excelent question ......

WHY is it tha PC BS only applies to christians ?

it offends me to see them walking around in robes and veils - i fear they are hiding something incidious , WHY shouldnt they be forced to be PC to my sencibilities ?

and as far as 'seperation of church and state' goes - using my tax dollars to provide prayer rooms and special facilities in the toilets to accomadate THEIR RELIGION is every bit if not more contrary to the constitutional intent ,

in fact its far more to the exact wording about not establishing a 'state' religion which is exactly how they live