.Ministry of Defence orders 'Bible guns' for soldiers in Afghanistan
The equipment was purchased from an American manufacturer which yesterday confirmed that markings carried on the same brand of sights used by US marines related to New Testament verses.
The codes include JN8:12 and 2COR4:6, which point to passages from the books of John and Second Corinthians respectively.
The former states: "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."
The MoD only announced its purchase of the Advanced Combat Optical Guides (ACOG) sights from Michigan-based firm Trijicon on Monday.
They were ordered as an accessory for 400 new Sharpshooter rifles due to go into service later this year. Quentin Davies, the defence minister, praised the weapons for their "highly-precise, long-range capability"
An MoD spokesman told The Daily Telegraph: “We were not aware at the time of purchase that these markings had any broader significance.
"Our priority is to buy the best performingequipment available on the market. In this case, Trijicon were selected as they offered the best performing optical sights. We are now exploring with Trijicon how best to proceed.”
One option could be to cover up or remove the references, which are printed in small letters between sight's model number and "Made in the USA".
News that US soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan were issued with weapons carrying Christian messages provoked a outcry from Muslims and secular campaigners.
The US government has been at pains to keep religious language out of military affairs since George W Bush infamously referred to the war against terror as a "crusade" in 2001.
American troops are banned from proselytising any faith while deployed in the two Islamic-majority countries.
The Second Corinthians passage referenced on the sights 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."
Telegraph
I think that's the markings that these people are really object to
The codes include JN8:12 and 2COR4:6, which point to passages from the books of John and Second Corinthians respectively.
The former states: "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."
The MoD only announced its purchase of the Advanced Combat Optical Guides (ACOG) sights from Michigan-based firm Trijicon on Monday.
They were ordered as an accessory for 400 new Sharpshooter rifles due to go into service later this year. Quentin Davies, the defence minister, praised the weapons for their "highly-precise, long-range capability"
An MoD spokesman told The Daily Telegraph: “We were not aware at the time of purchase that these markings had any broader significance.
"Our priority is to buy the best performingequipment available on the market. In this case, Trijicon were selected as they offered the best performing optical sights. We are now exploring with Trijicon how best to proceed.”
One option could be to cover up or remove the references, which are printed in small letters between sight's model number and "Made in the USA".
News that US soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan were issued with weapons carrying Christian messages provoked a outcry from Muslims and secular campaigners.
The US government has been at pains to keep religious language out of military affairs since George W Bush infamously referred to the war against terror as a "crusade" in 2001.
American troops are banned from proselytising any faith while deployed in the two Islamic-majority countries.
The Second Corinthians passage referenced on the sights 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."
Telegraph
I think that's the markings that these people are really object to
posted by madtom at 11:30 PM
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