Sniping Infidels for Jesus

[CptStern]

this is just plain old weird:

Secret "Jesus" Bible codes inscribed on American military weapons

ABC News reports that high-powered rifle sights provided to the US Army and Marines by Michigan weapons maker Trijicon include coded references to Bible passages about Jesus Christ:

The sights are used by U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and in the training of Iraqi and Afghan soldiers. The maker of the sights, Trijicon, has a $660 million multi-year contract to provide up to 800,000 sights to the Marine Corps, and additional contracts to provide sights to the U.S. Army.

One of the citations on the gun sights, 2COR4:6, is an apparent reference to Second Corinthians 4:6 of the New Testament, which reads: "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."

http://www.boingboing.net/2010/01/18/secret-jesus-bible-c.html

 

[FrostedxB]

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/us-mi...bed-secret-jesus-bible-codes/story?id=9575794

Says here the company confirmed doing this, and why.

 

[CptStern]

yes it does:

The company's vision is described on its Web site: "Guided by our values, we endeavor to have our products used wherever precision aiming solutions are required to protect individual freedom."

"We believe that America is great when its people are good," says the Web site. "This goodness has been based on Biblical standards throughout our history, and we will strive to follow those morals."

good thing they made that decision for all 300 million americans


this pretty much shows their mindset:

Tom Munson, director of sales and marketing for Trijicon, which is based in Wixom, Michigan, said the inscriptions "have always been there" and said there was nothing wrong or illegal with adding them. Munson said the issue was being raised by a group that is "not Christian."

zomg the atheists are trying to secularize politically sanctioned murder!


really jesus would be rolling in his ****ing grave if he saw what his teaching led to

 

[jverne]

Heh, silly extremist Christians.

 

[lame-o]

Why is this silly? If you're not Christian you don't have to worry about it. If you are, you have moral support while killing enemies. There's always been shit like this during wars. Crosses on shields, swords shaped like the cross, etc. You know some people need to believe that what they are doing is okay to be able to do it. In my mind, as long as you aren't killing innocent people you have a right to feel protected by your beliefs.

 

[jverne]

Why is this silly? If you're not Christian you don't have to worry about it. If you are, you have moral support while killing enemies. There's always been shit like this during wars. Crosses on shields, swords shaped like the cross, etc. You know some people need to believe that what they are doing is okay to be able to do it. In my mind, as long as you aren't killing innocent people you have a right to feel protected by your beliefs.

Well if that bullet is aimed at me because i'm an unbeliever. It kinda worries me.
Or if my tax money is going for scopes with Bible quotes on them it makes me kinda irritated.
Actually, any of my tax money going for a war i don't approve of makes me angry. But you get the point.

 

[lame-o]

Well if that bullet is aimed at me because i'm an unbeliever. It kinda worries me.
Or if my tax money is going for scopes with Bible quotes on them it makes me kinda irritated.
Actually, any of my tax money going for a war i don't approve of makes me angry. But you get the point.

What? So it's just because it's religious, you immediately have some sort of phobia? Well **** it, I wouldn't mind having a bullet aimed at me as long as the guy shooting it is atheist too lulz.

 

[Adabiviak]

So... only marginally on topic... do religious extremists prefer to be killed by an opposing religious fanatic or an atheist?

 

[Noodle]

You kinda remind me of those atheists that get all pissed when someone says "God bless you" after you sneeze.

I guess we have to bulldoze Arlington Cemetery now.

And I understand not wanting your tax dollars going towards that. No worries! Soon, it'll all be going into the most bloated, inefficient bureaucracy ever!

 

[Unfocused]

What are "high-powered rifle sights"? Like they use a lot of electricity or what?

 

[Vegeta897]

Sights for high powered rifles.

 

[Unfocused]

Oh, OK that makes more sense, but still it's a weird expression. Highly-powered by the primer and gunpowder within the rounds it contains? Hmm...

 

[Escaep]

What are "high-powered rifle sights"? Like they use a lot of electricity or what?

They might be more powerful. In the sense they can see farther, have greater detail, thermal imaging, infrared imaging, stuff like that.

 

[Shyam]

I don't get why the OP is getting so worked up about. People inscribing religious texts on weapons have been common throughout history. They want to believe that god is on their side. So long as those rifles aren't trained on the innocents, I don't see a problem.

However, if those rifles are given to Iraqi or Afghani soldiers I can see a problem.

 

[jverne]

What? So it's just because it's religious, you immediately have some sort of phobia? Well **** it, I wouldn't mind having a bullet aimed at me as long as the guy shooting it is atheist too lulz.

Actually i'd rather have an atheist shoot me than a religious person, because the former would probably want to kill me cause i ****ed his wife or something. The religious nut because i don't believe in his fairy tale god.

But to be hones i don't really care.

As long as my tax money doesn't go there i don't have a huge problem with it.


And no i'm not one of those atheist that are allergic to anything religion related.

 

[Bob_Marley]

Meh, Trijicon is a private company, they're free to do what they want with thier products. If the US government has a problem with having this on the optics they can specify that thier next purchace does not include them or take thier contract elsewhere.

Personally if I were a soldier I'd rather have a good optic with a bible reference its taken someone 7 years to actually notice and make a hoo-ha about than a bad one which doesn't.

 

[Noodle]

But to be honest i don't really care.

As long as my tax money doesn't go there i don't have a huge problem with it.

It isn't! Really! MY tax money is going towards making sure they have something good to shoot with.

YOUR tax money is probably going towards something America deems more important. Like pills to help an old guy piss easier.

 

[Wanted Bob]

Just wait until YOU are that old guy! You are gonna be damn grateful for those pills!

 

[Noodle]

I will also be grateful I am not in a building that happens to blow up

 

[Warped]

this is what i would have inscribed on my rocket launchers i were to make them.

Ezekiel 25:17
"The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of the darkness. For he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee."

 

[jet_porkins]

It's worth noting that most of that verse is not what the text actually says.

But it does sound BA.

 

[ríomhaire]

What are "high-powered rifle sights"? Like they use a lot of electricity or what?

It's either a sight for a powerful rifle or its lenses have a high power.

 

[StarBob]

Why is this silly? If you're not Christian you don't have to worry about it. If you are, you have moral support while killing enemies. There's always been shit like this during wars. Crosses on shields, swords shaped like the cross, etc. You know some people need to believe that what they are doing is okay to be able to do it. In my mind, as long as you aren't killing innocent people you have a right to feel protected by your beliefs.

The Crusades? Are we going to carry the Ark of the Covenant to shoot lasers?

 

[CptStern]

I don't get why the OP is getting so worked up about. People inscribing religious texts on weapons have been common throughout history. They want to believe that god is on their side.

who do? the people who made the sights or the soldiers? believe it or not not all US soldiers are christian or religious. Also the US has a strict policy against religious

So long as those rifles aren't trained on the innocents, I don't see a problem.

lol. how does that even make sense? it's ok so long as no one is killed? I bet you could use that to justify a lot of things ..like robbery and or rape

Meh, Trijicon is a private company, they're free to do what they want with thier products.

U.S. military rules specifically prohibit the proselytizing of any religion

also:

It's wrong, it violates the Constitution, it violates a number of federal laws," said Michael "Mikey" Weinstein of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, an advocacy group that seeks to preserve the separation of church and state in the military.

"It allows the Mujahedeen, the Taliban, al Qaeda and the insurrectionists and jihadists to claim they're being shot by Jesus rifles," he said.

Weinstein, an attorney and former Air Force officer, said many members of his group who currently serve in the military have complained about the markings on the sights. He also claims they've told him that commanders have referred to weapons with the sights as "spiritually transformed firearm of Jesus Christ."

He said coded biblical inscriptions play into the hands of "those who are calling this a Crusade."

 

[Escaep]

Are the troops forced to use these sights?

 

[Eejit]

The Crusades? Are we going to carry the Ark of the Covenant to shoot lasers?

No, but we're gonna mount the True Cross on top of an abrams tank.

 

[Noodle]

No, but we're gonna mount the True Cross on top of an abrams tank.

That would be f***ing awesome.

 

[No Limit]

Who would jesus snipe?

And yeah, american soldiers putting christian verses on their weapons isn't a problem in a world where many think we are on a christian crusade against Islam.

 

[barbarbarbarbar]

YOU WERE KILLED BY
Jesus's gun

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE
You were killed by JESUS'S gun

 

[Gunner]

Between this and the Blackwater CEO, ahem I mean Xe building a christian mercenary force to conduct crusades... I don't even know how to react to this shit anymore.

 

[CptStern]

Are the troops forced to use these sights?

with 800,000 in circulation I'm guessing the answer is yes.

And yeah, american soldiers putting christian verses on their weapons isn't a problem in a world where many think we are on a christian crusade against Islam.

it's not the american soldiers putting it on the rifles. it's a military contractor with strong religious leanings making that decision on their behalf

 

[Acepilotf14]

Is it just me or are all Stern threads the same?

Also, In n Out(a fast-food restaurant with the most delicious burgers ever) does this same thing on the bottom of their fry .. plate.. things.

I simply cannot believe it! They're forcing their religion on me, the dirty bastards! I paid for a meal and I don't want to have to read 6 letters every time I look at the bottom of my frybox!

 

[Noodle]

I'll start taking this seriously when soldiers start complaining.

 

[Shyam]

it's not the american soldiers putting it on the rifles. it's a military contractor with strong religious leanings making that decision on their behalf

If Christian nutters want to show the world how mad they really are, let them show.

Is it just me or are all Stern threads the same?

You son of a b****. You take that back. America is evil, you hear.

 

[xcellerate]

the manufacturer simply tried shaving some metal off to save weight, it's purely coincidental that it happens to spell out bible verses. And that whole article where they admitted to printing bible verses on their sights was just a typo.

 

[Bob_Marley]

U.S. military rules specifically prohibit the proselytizing of any religion

It's wrong, it violates the Constitution, it violates a number of federal laws," said Michael "Mikey" Weinstein of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, an advocacy group that seeks to preserve the separation of church and state in the military.

"It allows the Mujahedeen, the Taliban, al Qaeda and the insurrectionists and jihadists to claim they're being shot by Jesus rifles," he said.

Weinstein, an attorney and former Air Force officer, said many members of his group who currently serve in the military have complained about the markings on the sights. He also claims they've told him that commanders have referred to weapons with the sights as "spiritually transformed firearm of Jesus Christ."

He said coded biblical inscriptions play into the hands of "those who are calling this a Crusade."

Show me a contract/competition document that states that the company had to inform the military of religious references on thier products. If the military didn't ask, trijicon is under no obligation to inform them.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying its against regulation for such optics to be in use, but the point remains that the military was aware of what the serial numbers said, if they didn't ask what that meant whats the problem with a private company producing such optics?

It is clearly the military's lack of throughness in examening new equipment and failing to ask the correct questions that is the problem here, not what the company is doing. After all, its not them breaking federal law, its the military.

 

[Noodle]

It is clearly the military's lack of throughness in examening new equipment and failing to ask the correct questions that is the problem here, not what the company is doing.

"So, before we sign this contract, are there any subtle hidden messages on your equipment that have a religious meaning that might offend some absurd religi-phobes?"

 

[Eejit]

Yeah, it might encourage islamic extremism even more but who cares?

 

[Acepilotf14]

You son of a b****. You take that back. America is evil, you hear.

I never denied that.

 

[VirusType2]

Oh, OK that makes more sense, but still it's a weird expression. Highly-powered by the primer and gunpowder within the rounds it contains? Hmm...

It's been answered, but to reiterate, a 'high powered scope' means it is capable of very high magnification. Similarly, a high powered microscope or telescope.


Church | State, IMO.

Are the troops forced to use these sights?

Of course they don't have a choice. It's all standard issue.