January 21, 2010

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates

The Michigan-based weapons contractor which sold rifle sights inscribed with Biblical references announced today that it will immediately stop the practice on equipment it sells to the military. MPAC today welcomed the announcement, which was sparked by an ABC news investigation aired this week. MPAC today called the announcement a "victory for religious freedom and our Constitutional guarantees."

Yesterday, MPAC sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, denouncing the purchase of such weapons which violate the Constitution and U.S. military rules, and provide propaganda ammunition for the Taliban and other violent extremist groups who argue that the U.S. is conducting a "religious crusade" in its wars in Muslim countries. Pentagon officials yesterday called the inscriptions inappropriate and said they were looking into the matter.

SEE: MPAC Calls on Pentagon to Remove Guns w/ Biblical Inscriptions from Combat

SEE: "No More Jesus Rifles" (ABCnews)

SEE: "Muslim Anger Over US Military 'Jesus' Scopes" (AFP)

SEE: "Bible Codes in Afghan Army Guns" (Al Jazeera English)

The New York Times reported today that Trijicon Inc. -- which manufactures the sights which are currently being used by American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as by Afghan troops -- will also provide the Pentagon with 100 kits to remove the inscriptions on the existing weapons. (Click here to see Trijicon's press release.)

"The Pentagon did the right thing by acting swiftly to correct this violation of the Constitution and of U.S. military rules," said Washington, DC Office Director Haris Tarin. "We applaud the Military Religious Freedom Foundation and ABC news for bringing attention to this issue, and hope this is a step toward greater military oversight of contractors."

One of the citations on the gun sights, "2COR4:6," is an reference to Second Corinthians 4:6 of the New Testament: "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." John 8:12, referred to on the gun sights as JN8:12, reads, "Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

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