The Edisto Joe Outlook: TRIJICON: "ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIER"

Thursday, January 21, 2010

TRIJICON: "ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIER"

According to an article by the AP, Muslim groups are pissed off about defense contractor Trijicon using Biblical reference codes in their serial numbers for their tactical gun sights they sell to the military.

Muslim groups reacted angrily Wednesday after it emerged that the U.S. military is using combat rifle sights inscribed with coded Biblical references.

Army officials have said they will investigate whether a Michigan defense contractor violated federal procurement rules by stamping references to Bible verses on the gun sights used by American forces to kill enemy fighters in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations on Wednesday said the continued use of the sights with the religious references would send a negative message to the Muslim world.

"The use of military equipment with hidden Bible references sends the false message to Muslims worldwide that we are at war with Islam," said CAIR Legal Counsel Nadhira Al-Khalili. "In addition, these sights are a potential recruiting tool for anti-American forces, endanger our troops and alienate our Muslim allies. They should we withdrawn as soon as logistically possible."

First, I would like to say to Trijicon, great idea! For me it rates right up their with, "Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition." That phrase was the name of a popular patriotic song in 1942. The words were shouted by Chaplin, Howell Forgy to the men working the ammunition line on the USS New Orleans during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Many ministers still use the phrase in Sunday sermons today. Trijicon is doing nothing wrong and has every right as a private firm to use whatever they want as serial numbers to catalog and identify their product. During times of war the word of God is never out of place. Verses from Biblical scripture have been printed on everything from helmets to bombs and many a GI had his own personal Bible.

These Muslim groups need to "stand down" in their objections. I seriously doubt they are concerned that these weapons sights are a potential recruiting tool for anti-American forces, endanger our troops and alienate our Muslim allies. Hell, our Muslim allies know we are a Christian nation and as far as endangering our troops...I happen to have a Trijicon accupoint sight mounted on my 306 Remington hunting rifle and if the military versions perform as well as that sight, then the only endangerment will be to the Muslim terrorist on the receiving end. As for use as a recruiting tool for Muslims? I would think the sights accuracy in the hands of a highly trained Marine rifleman would act as a deterrent.

These so called concerned Muslim groups would be doing us all a favor if they directed more of their outrage at their own brethren. Those who have perverted their religion, taken over their countries, and have declared war against western civilization, all in the name of Alla. Make no mistake, to these radical Muslims we are the infidels. They are out to destroy our society as well as our religion.

According to Trijicon, when asked to respond:
The codes were used as "part of our faith and our belief in service to our country," Trijicon said.

"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," a company spokesman said on condition of anonymity.

"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.

There is no clever conspiracy or marketing ploy here and I choose to believe the company is sincere in their answer but you can be sure this will be making it's way to the ACLU before it's all over. How dare you invoke the word of the Lord on your weapons! My answer is simple..."Onward Christian Soldier."