Bible verses on US army rifle scopes prompt concern
 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZZWgkQwXuo

are u fucking kidding me? i wonder who uncovered this , looks like a bunch of numbers and letters to me

2010RS

if i was buying a $1200 scope i'd probably want the choice to have whats printed on it and i'd probably prefer to not have bible verses :/

I just lost respect for msnbc. This seems like a pretty FOX News thing to do.

This is why I use a laser site on my M16

damn religious freaks

Don't like how they make the product? Buy from someone else.

I will assume that you are referring to the ones who raised this issue in the first place.

Also on BBC's website.
Military concern at 'Jesus sight'

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."
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/h...as/8468981.stm

Published: 2010/01/19 22:05:25 GMT

If this were true, the troops should have a choice of whether or not they have the scriptures engraved. Easiest way to keep everyone happy is to have 2 versions of the scope available.

Of course, the cheapest option is to remove them entirely. Makes 'em cheaper to manufacture too. :)

they shouldn't have the scopes engraved with any sort of religious verses at all. if anything, the soldiers can carry rosaries or verses themselves... mixing religion and military equipment on the part of the government (even though they "didn't know about it") isn't right, especially when supposedly religion is separate from government.

the report makes perfect sense, and is a serious concern not just for the issues the reporter voiced

but consider it a subtle indoctrination, luckily its just a small step of listing it in codes... but its just a small step from actually printing the verses on the scope

also consider the nutjobs in the military who are over there this push of religion onto them will push their extremism

its almost exactly what the americans are supposedly fighting against "religious extremism" they're doing the same.. i cant remember which documentary it is but it also shows how all military bases are highly influenced by christian groups

too tired... but if you can't see the concern ur as a dumb as the ppl who support fox news

weeeee, I can use the fail button for no good reason as well!

So let me get this straight, they have a huge issue with scripture on a rifle scope that they chose to buy, but have no issues with the dollar bill?

the news agency had no decision making on the purchasing of the scopes nor did the soldiers who voiced their concern...

the military officials had no concern until troops started complaining to advocacy groups... (that's different from the Department of Defense, who actually does the buying)


also how the hell does the dollar bill come into this... the bill isn't physically in a war zone killing ppl

w0w fucking dumb

He's just trying to get enough kills for a thermal.

:haha: i cant stand the thermal, acog ftw

military and religion CANT mix.
these douchebags at trijicon shouldn't have put their religion where it does not belong

Not really. This is actually a legitimate concern as having Bible verses on weapons implies this is a religious war...which it is not. The US is fighting against terrorism and such, not Islam.

Fox News is heavily pro-Christian, meaning they would probably support something like this...or if it wasn't on there, they would probably argue for it to be added like the fucking morons they are.

i would love to get PHO20 on my rifle... hell even PHO:2010

They should tag this on: EZ25:17.

acog licks balls...
holographic ftw

red dot for lyfe

only newbs run holo

acog is too zoom.

but my thermal on my barrett makes baby jesus cry


and religion has always been a LARGE part of US history.
"in god we trust" ring any bells? guess what, its already been brought up, but it was a good point

guess if there are still christian prayers said over mess? they sure are. christianity is a large part of military today, even in canada. dont like it? harden the fuck up. its part of life

On the other side, you'd have 420 inscribed, right?