Trijicon Sights May Have Biblical Verses Stamped Onto Them

[theGinsue]

Michigan defense contractor has God in its sights
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100120/...bible_passages

By RICHARD LARDNER, Associated Press Writer Richard Lardner, Associated Press Writer – 41 mins ago
WASHINGTON – Army officials said Tuesday they will investigate whether a Michigan defense contractor violated federal procurement rules by stamping references to Bible verses on combat rifle sights used by American forces to kill enemy fighters in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Marine Corps, another major customer of the telescoping sights that allow troops to pinpoint targets day or night, says service acquisition officials plan to meet with the contractor, Trijicon of Wixom, Mich., to discuss future purchases of the company's gear.
The references have stoked concerns by a watch dog group about whether the inscriptions break a government rule that bars proselytizing by American troops. But military officials said the citations don't violate the ban and they won't stop using the tens of thousands of telescoping sights that have already been bought.
Trijicon said it has been longstanding company practice to put the Scripture citations on the equipment. Tom Munson, Trijicon's director of sales and marketing, said the company has never received any complaints until now.
"We don't publicize this," Munson said in a recent 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 Web site 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 Web site.
Mikey Weinstein, president of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, says the Trijicon 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 Quran were being inscribed onto these U.S. armed forces gun sights instead of New Testament citations," Weinstein said. The foundation is a nonprofit organization 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 sights don't violate the ban on proselytizing because there's 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 buys 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 markings. But Army acquisition experts will determine if Trijicon violated any procurement regulations, he said.
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.

[bellavite1]

I believe it is fucked up that they sneak their beliefs on their product (for which we pay good money).
They should let people know in advance so they can decide for themselves.
Why would they not state it openly?
If I was a Christian I would be a proud one.
As a Pagan I do have a big issue with it,
I do not proselytize my beliefs and neither should they.
Now that I know this, I will never be their customer.

[Great-Kazoo]

while not a follower of the verses myself. After seeing this on GayBC, and the whining from the "anit-god" folks. i'd buy another one just to put some more money in their soon to be "Greedy fanatical right winged Corporation" . it's bad enough the ACLU wants info on the predator drones, now this shit.

[cleaner72]

its their product to do a they please...if someone idiot newperson had never pointed it out no one would have know the difference. If the government doesnt like it cancell the contract and try and find another company to produce a equal product.....im betting even if they did, most troops would just buy there own trijicon sights

[kidicarus13]

if someone idiot newperson had never pointed it out no one would have know the difference.

So true. I think it's clever. I never really needed one but now that I know what they stand for I may be inclined to buy one.

[jake]

Consider this: we're fighting an enemy that is doing its level best to convince the moderate majority of their fellow believers that we're engaged in a Christian crusade to convert or kill all of them. Bearing that in mind, is it wise to give them more ammunition just to annoy a few people back home?

It's as stupid as Magpul putting "Made in Boulder" on their products because they think it upsets some hippies, only soldiers are unlikely to be killed because of that.

[Irving]

I believe it is fucked up that they sneak their beliefs on their product (for which we pay good money).
They should let people know in advance so they can decide for themselves.
Why would they not state it openly?
If I was a Christian I would be a proud one.
As a Pagan I do have a big issue with it,
I do not proselytize my beliefs and neither should they.
Now that I know this, I will never be their customer.

That's retarded. If they want to use Biblical verses to help catagorize their product, while at the same time not even mentioning it, let alone pushing their beliefs onto you, what do you care?

Do you even know what you are so upset about? Have you bothered to look up any of the verses yet? I wouldn't be surprised if they were related to portions of the Bible that talk about self defense.

Are you just as mad at the Constitution for being based on Biblical law?

[Irving]

It's as stupid as Magpul putting "Made in Boulder" on their products because they think it upsets some hippies, only soldiers are unlikely to be killed because of that.

When you can prove even a single soldier death because of this, please come back and let us know. Before you let us know, let the author of this article know and thank him for one more soldier fallen.

[car-15]

all of my acog's look just like the one in the pic. with the jn8:12, who cares? honestly I love them, and i'd still buy them if they had a pic. of a dog's a$$ on the side....

[cebeu]

"...concerns by a watch dog group...

Lost my interest/concern right there...they can eat shit (but I get "the contract / financial game" to the nth degree).

....shooters hit what they're aiming for...

So does anything else really matter?

"I don't have to wonder for a nanosecond how the American public would react if citations from the Quran were being inscribed onto these U.S. armed forces gun sights instead of New Testament citations," Weinstein said.

I agree, I'd piss all over that (how droll, disingenuous and unfair eh?) but are Muslims building a better product? Eat ass "Weeney-stain." Let's revisit your fiction when that BS PC crap is in production and being procured in the real-world

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.

How many of those whining pussies really exist and are truly relevant Weeney-stain? 3?

As long as the sights meet the combat needs of troops, they'll continue to be used."

Rock-n-Roll.

On the flip-side what a questionable business decision? That said; They're call and I'll buy Trijicon products, couldn't care less who is offended (Unless I see a quote from the Quran, Qur’ān, Koran someday then I'm done! )