Following news that the military has been using weapons with inscribed Scripture references in Iraq and Afghanistan, I called on the Defense Department to suspend its contract with Trijicon and wrote this:
What good is it to have our civilian leadership traveling the world with the promise that America does not fight religious wars, when the military has our soldiers training some Afghans and Iraqis, and killing others, with guns that proclaim otherwise?
The disconnect is palpable. Our government does not and should not have a religious viewpoint; neither should the military. And while I can imagine such inscriptions providing some Christian soldiers comfort, that's hardly an excuse, and beside the point. Apart from giving the inaccurate and harmful impression that the US military is engaged in a holy crusade, this company insults non-Christian soldiers as well as those Christian soldiers who reject the invocation of Christ in acts of war. And yet, AP's Richard Lardner finds that officials have no problem with the inscriptions, and plan no changes:
A spokesman for U.S. Central Command, which manages military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, said the inscribed sights don't violate the ban on proselytizing because there's no effort to distribute the equipment beyond the U.S. troops who use them.
"This situation is not unlike the situation with U.S. currency," said the spokesman, Air Force Maj. John Redfield. "Are we going to stop using money because the bills have 'In God We Trust' on them? As long as the sights meet the combat needs of troops, they'll continue to be used."
[UPDATE: In later versions of the AP story, and in something of a departure from Redfield's dismissive statement, Lardner reports that now Army officials plan to investigate whether Trijicon violated federal rules. And the Marine Corps, the story adds, plans to meet with the company to discuss the situation. ABC News also reports the Marine Corps is "concerned". Hopefully, these later reports represent real movement in the right direction. Stay tuned.]
2nd Update: Trijicon has agreed to stop the practice of inscribing New Testament references on gun sights (1/21). Maybe even better news is that Redfield's response above is apparently out of step with the military's position. Officials were concerned and acted quickly.]
Some other reports and reactions:
London's Telegraph – "US Troops Issued Gun Sights Carrying Coded Biblical Messages"
Detroit Free Press: "Wixom Rifle Maker Under Fire for Etching Bible Verses Into Sights"
David Waters: "Bible References on U.S. Gun Sights?"
Rob Boston (AU) – "U.S. Should Ditch Firm that Added Bible Verses to Rifle Scopes"
