Rifles used by U.S. troops include Bible verse inscriptions

[madinmaryland]

Seriously..

http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/2010-01-19-Military-weapons_N.htm?csp=usat.me

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."'

:wtf:

[anonymous171]

1. I am so offended by this. The American Empire needs to use secular weapons to occupy countries

I DEMAND AN INVESTIGATION!

[ddeclue]

2. Does it go something like: Yeah though I walk through the valley of death, I shall fear no evil..

because I carry this 50 caliber semi automatic Barrett sniper rifle?

[elocs]

3. I hate to say it, but this story has already been post numerous times

and spent a long time yesterday on the DU home page right up on the very top.

[madinmaryland]

9. Sorry! I must have missed in between the hundreds of the REAL DEMOCRATS

threads and those questioning why someone hates or loves the President.

:hi:

[HysteryDiagnosis]

4. Wow.... this is the first I hear of this.... at least they are prepped

for when they are beaten into plowshares.

[Motown_Johnny]

5. 3rd or 4th thread on this today.... doesn't anyone watch Rachel's show?

no offense intended but this was on TV yesterday


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/#34928367

[madinmaryland]

11. I didn't see Rachel yesterday, and with all the REAL DEMOCRAT threads

I totally missed it, while I traveled back from Pennsylvania yesterday!

:hi:

[Merchant Marine]

6. No, rifle accesories

The ACOG sight used by the military is a civilian off the shelf procurement, exactly the same as one you could buy in a gun store or direct from Trijicon. The military does this because the "civilian" model is already milspec, so they can save money because the production line is already set up. Civilians play $1k+ for an ACOG, the military pays around $700.

The bible verse references are 5 characters at the end of the serial number cast into the sight casing. To remove them would require re-tooling or building a new production line for the casing, costing the military and Trijicon a heap of money.

Trijicon claims they are continuing a tradition started by the dead founder of the company. The verse refers to lighting the way, which is at least relevant as the ACOG uses a fiber optic to gather light to illuminate its internal reticule.

[rfranklin]

7. Good, let them go broke...

Assholes.

[Merchant Marine]

10. Our troops need the best equipment possible

Trijicon should go broke and the ACOG should go out of production because of 5 cast characters at the end of a serial number?

The ACOG alone has revolutionized medium range small arms engagements; its really been a lifesaver over there. The army bolts it onto everything from M-16s to M2 HMGs.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

18. It really does work wonderfully. Have to wonder is that is due to scripture or despite it

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

23. Easy then. Manufacturer stops the biblical BS, sights are good and propaganda-free.

What's so difficult about that?

[anonymous171]

12. Why the rage? This really isn't anything to get upset over. nt

[rfranklin]

14. Killing for Jesus?

Are serious?

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

16. Who said they were killing for Jesus?

[Name removed]

52. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[etherealtruth]

13. More specifically "sights"

I know a project engineer there .... all true, and "they" really see absolutely no problem with it.

[depakid]

8. I hope they all get raptured up with the Muslim fundies- so they can fight over all the virgins

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

17. You have your religions all mixed up there.

[krabigirl]

21. nope, pretty much both of them are insane

[depakid]

22. Not at all different in kind- but only (and not always) in degree

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

15. The reporters at USA Today are idiots. Don't you have to be able to read to be an editor?

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

24. What's wrong with the article? -nt

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

33. The title!!!

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

37. Ah, I see. Stating facts that offend your opinion = illiteracy.

Even if in a completely neutral, factual fashion.

Call the WAAAAAAAAHmbulance.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

39. So you've read the article and you still think that Rifles used by US troops have an inscription?

Apparently the problem with illiteracy extends to some on DU.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

40. Isn't the sight part of the rifle? Isn't "Letter Number Colon Number" an inscription? -nt

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

46. No, the sight is attached. The inscription is not on the rifle.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

53. Outside the gun-obsessed subculture, the importance of the distinction looks weak. -nt

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

54. Not my fault these idiots can't tell the difference between a rifle and a scope.

[gatorboy]

42. They don't use the scopes?

Really?

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

47. The inscription is on the scope not on the rifle. Is it really that hard to understand?

[gatorboy]

49. You're such a stickler for details!

:rofl:

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

50. Unnecessarily provocative title to the story. Why not just print the facts?

That's what the media is supposed to do.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

51. You look like a Sci-Fi nerd throwing a hissy fit because an article printed "Obi-Won Kenobi".

"It's Obi-Wan, with an A! Morons!"

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

55. That's pretty funny.

:toast:

I do believe it's an important distinction, several stories managed to get it right.

[struggle4progress]

19. Lemme guess. I bet none of the citations is Mt5:39

[donheld]

20. Too bad they can't all be inscribed with "thou shalt not kill"

[TicketyBoo]

25. Too bad

that wasn't inscribed on the Twin Towers.

[Fumesucker]

26. We were killing Muslims long before 9/11/2001

And in far greater numbers..

Does this photo ring a bell? It was seen all over the Muslim world.

[TicketyBoo]

27. Don't think

rifle sights had much to do with that, though.

[Fumesucker]

28. And 9/11 had nothing to do with rifle sights..

Funny how that works, eh?

[TicketyBoo]

29. Still wouldn't have been bad

to have had that engraved on the Twin Towers.

Kind of a nice sentiment.

[Echo In Light]

30. Not really

[Fumesucker]

31. I think Galatians 6: 7 would have been more appropriate myself..

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

[TicketyBoo]

32. Probably not appropriate

for those particular buildings.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

34. Don't you mean "thou shalt not murder"?

[Toasterlad]

35. If I Were Religious, This Would Piss Me Off.

Since I am not religious, it fucking infuriates me.

[MicaelS]

36. Another thread on this topic?

People are dying in Haiti, we lost a Senate seat, and people are getting worked up about this? Fuck..... And yes, I unrecommended it.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

38. Damn, thanks for remind me! I almost forgot to recommend!

I now corrected that oversight, thanks to you.

[aikoaiko]

41. its not the manufacturer's fault the military didn't care about the letters/numbers on the optics

[11 Bravo]

43. If they shoot straight, who gives a fuck? Not the grunts using them, I'll wager.

My M-16 could have been inscribed with "Re-elect Nixon in '72", and I wouldn't have cared as long as it put out rounds in the direction I pointed it.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

48. Exactly.

[Initech]

44. Praise the lord and pass the ammo - literally.

:nuke:

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

45. I have some bible versus engraved on some of my firearms...

Psalm 91:5-8
Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

I also have "Avada Kedavra" engraved on the barrel of of one of my handguns. (This is The Killing Curse from Harry Potter... :rofl:)

[Bucky]

56. "And they shall beat their ploughshares into swords. And then beat those swords into Bibles."