Allied forces concerned over biblical references on Trijicon Gunsights

[Pave Low]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8468981.stm

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.

[Rocky]

Can we get these modded into GR weapon sights? Just for realism of course.

[Parabellum]

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.

Let's be honest; the only reason anyone cares about the markings is that they don't want to offend Muslims. My take on that is that if a bunch of Muslims hadn't done some idiotic things, then the US wouldn't be in Iraq or in Afghanistan. Stop murdering people who aren't muslims, stop blowing yourselves up in the name of your religion, and maybe the US and the UK and our friends wouldn't be there in the first place.

Edited January 21, 2010 by ZJJ

[NoQuarter]

Remember the flap a few years back over what exactly went into the processing for the lubrication of small arms ammunition?

[SnowFella]

It's now also moved downunder it seems.

Row over 'biblical' weapons in Afghanistan

And it looks like the original complaint about the references came from a US serviceman.

The ADF and military authorities in the US, Britain and elsewhere thought the letters and numbers on the sights were simply stock or model numbers until a US soldier in Afghanistan complained to the Military Religious Freedom Foundation that the initials referred to passage from the Bible.

Just checking though my ACOG references here I've found a few "codes" that would link in with bible passages, the few that I have checked all have some reference to light...likely since Trijicon makes lit reticles I'd say.

TA01NSN: JN8:12

Reflex: 2COR4:6

unknown model: MT5:16

Edit: Just stumbled onto this while checking out militaryphotos forums.

Old archived thread

Not exactly news to some ppl it seems...lol

[Rocky]

And it looks like the original complaint about the references came from a US serviceman.

A Muslim US Army infantryman, according to the article Pave linked to above.

[Pave Low]

New Zealand to remove Biblical references on gun sights

In New Zealand, defence force spokesman Maj Kristian Dunne said his department was talking to Trijicon about the best way to remove the markings without damaging the sights.

"The inscriptions... put us in a difficult situation. We were unaware of it and we're unhappy that the manufacturer didn't give us any indication that these were on there," he said. "We deem them to be inappropriate."

Australia has also said its military uses the sights and is now assessing how to respond, the AP news agency reports.

US firm to remove Biblical references on gunsights

The company pledged to remove the inscription reference on all products destined for the US military yet to be shipped and ensure all future procurements from the department of defence are produced without scripture references.

It also said it would provide 100 modification kits to forces in the field to remove the references.

[Sup]

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.

Let's be honest; the only reason anyone cares about the markings is that they don't want to offend Muslims.

Or Jews. Or Atheists. Or buddhists. Or agnostics. Or christians who feel their faith should be a private matter. Or Hindus. Or anyone with a 'pagan' faith, or any number of other smaller religions which members of the us armed forces include.

I mean, i think all of this furor over tiny little text etched into the sight is silly, don't get me wrong, but it's not like this is a concern over 'dem muzlims'.

And it's not like there's some worldwide muslim conspiracy to kill innocents and defile christian values, it just so happens that a couple of crazy [people] in the middle east happen to be of muslim faith.

Also, let's not forget the likely considerable amount of christians who are religiously pacifistic who could be offended by their scripture being inscribed on something designed to kill.

[Ruin]

Dusting off the old Mod-Stick here...

Seems we've gone off topic and in to political debate.

Get off the individual religion debate and back on "religious references on gun sights and why it's important" topic please. I really don't want to dust off Ruin's Old Padlock.

Okay... carry on.