Jesus Rifles

[Perd Hapley]

Ooh, thank you!  I like!  Nifty trivia regarding use of force as a moral judgement and imperative.

And speaking of Henry Beecher and his bibles, that's Beecher as in Harriet Beecher Stowe and other famous Beechers.  They tended toward political activism, motivated by religious ideals.  How horrible!!

[TechMan]

Trijicon is temporarily removing the references.

http://www.trijicon.com/whats_new.cfm?whats_newID=170#170
 
Trijicon, Inc. Offers to Voluntarily Remove Scripture References on all Products Destined for U.S. Military
(Wixom, MI – Thursday, January 21, 2010) – Trijicon, Inc. today announced that effective yesterday, Wednesday, January 20, 2010, the company has offered to voluntarily stop putting references to scripture on all products manufactured for the U.S. military – and will provide, free of charge, 100 modification kits to the Pentagon to enable the removal of the references that are already on products that are currently deployed.

In response to concerns raised by the Department of Defense, Trijicon, Inc. initiated this action to ensure the war-time production needs of the troops are met as quickly as possible.

Specifically, Trijicon will:

    * Remove the inscription reference on all U.S. military products that are in the company’s factory that have already been produced, but have yet to be shipped.
    * Provide 100 modification kits to forces in the field to remove the reference on the already forward deployed optical sights.
    * Ensure all future procurements from the Department of Defense are produced without scripture references.
    * Offer foreign military forces that have purchased Trijicon products the same remedies for removing the scripture reference and the elimination of these references on future products.



Stephen Bindon, Trijicon President and CEO:
“Trijicon has proudly served the U.S. military for more than two decades, and our decision to offer to voluntarily remove these references is both prudent and appropriate,” Stephen Bindon, Trijicon President said. “We want to thank the Department of Defense for the opportunity to work with them and will move as quickly as possible to provide the modification kits for deployment overseas. We are honored that our products were selected by the United States military based on their superior effectiveness and overall value. Trijicon’s more than 250 American workers are proud and humbled to provide critical hardware for our nation’s brave service men and women and we look forward to working with the Department of Defense to ensure our immediate solutions are in compliance with the military’s standards requirements.”

About Trijicon, Inc.:
Trijicon, Inc. has led the industry in the development of superior any-light aiming systems since the company's founding in 1981. For two generations Trijicon has supplied America’s military with the highest quality, innovative optical sighting systems. We are proud and humbled by the opportunity to provide critical hardware for our nation’s brave service men and women.

Contact: Tom Munson,Director of Sales and Marketing (248) 960-7700

[Balog]

  I suppose they'll stop having chaplains pray before Bn formations now too, huh?

[makattak]

Trijicon is temporarily removing the references.

http://www.trijicon.com/whats_new.cfm?whats_newID=170#170
 
Trijicon, Inc. Offers to Voluntarily Remove Scripture References on all Products Destined for U.S. Military
(Wixom, MI – Thursday, January 21, 2010) – Trijicon, Inc. today announced that effective yesterday, Wednesday, January 20, 2010, the company has offered to voluntarily stop putting references to scripture on all products manufactured for the U.S. military – and will provide, free of charge, 100 modification kits to the Pentagon to enable the removal of the references that are already on products that are currently deployed.

In response to concerns raised by the Department of Defense, Trijicon, Inc. initiated this action to ensure the war-time production needs of the troops are met as quickly as possible.

Specifically, Trijicon will:

    * Remove the inscription reference on all U.S. military products that are in the company’s factory that have already been produced, but have yet to be shipped.
    * Provide 100 modification kits to forces in the field to remove the reference on the already forward deployed optical sights.
    * Ensure all future procurements from the Department of Defense are produced without scripture references.
    * Offer foreign military forces that have purchased Trijicon products the same remedies for removing the scripture reference and the elimination of these references on future products.



Stephen Bindon, Trijicon President and CEO:
“Trijicon has proudly served the U.S. military for more than two decades, and our decision to offer to voluntarily remove these references is both prudent and appropriate,” Stephen Bindon, Trijicon President said. “We want to thank the Department of Defense for the opportunity to work with them and will move as quickly as possible to provide the modification kits for deployment overseas. We are honored that our products were selected by the United States military based on their superior effectiveness and overall value. Trijicon’s more than 250 American workers are proud and humbled to provide critical hardware for our nation’s brave service men and women and we look forward to working with the Department of Defense to ensure our immediate solutions are in compliance with the military’s standards requirements.”

About Trijicon, Inc.:
Trijicon, Inc. has led the industry in the development of superior any-light aiming systems since the company's founding in 1981. For two generations Trijicon has supplied America’s military with the highest quality, innovative optical sighting systems. We are proud and humbled by the opportunity to provide critical hardware for our nation’s brave service men and women.

Contact: Tom Munson,Director of Sales and Marketing (248) 960-7700

Nice! Now I'm sure the ACLU and the like will jump up and done screaming about first amendment rights being violated!

  .... wait, what? They don't care about people's first Amendment rights unless they agree with what they're saying?

[HankB]

* Provide 100 modification kits to forces in the field to remove the reference on the already forward deployed optical sights.

That they have to do this to placate military/government REMFs is beyond asinine.

Sadly, once again, the first line in my .sig is proven to be true.  

[41magsnub]

What is the removal kit?  A razor blade and some sandpaper?

[CAnnoneer]

We have reached a new low as a society - we now worry about the emotional comfort of our enemies before we capture them.

[Balog]

We have reached a new low as a society - we now worry about the emotional comfort of our enemies before we capture them.

Hey now, what about the emotional health of all the Muslims enlisted in our infantry? /gigglesnort

[Nick1911]

What is the removal kit?  A razor blade and some sandpaper?

I wondered that myself.

1/2" HSS end mill?  

[CAnnoneer]

Hey now, what about the emotional health of all the Muslims enlisted in our infantry? /gigglesnort

I am sure that the Quran has plenty of choicy passages about smiting thy enemy that is naughty in Allah's sight. The Muslims in our military are welcome to inscribe the respective references on their rifles as well. Freedom of religion, not from religion.

[Perd Hapley]

The Muslims in our military are welcome to inscribe the respective references on their rifles as well.

Until sarge finds out.     I wouldn't want to be the grunt that gets caught scratching letters into my M4. 

[Scout26]

What is the removal kit?  A razor blade and some sandpaper?

100 Dremel tools......

 

[Lee]

I wish Trijicon had told them to bite it.  My logical side understands the issue, but my emotional and faithful side doesn't buy in.  I'm not all that religious myself, and I understand the realities of staying in business and why some people are offended...but there is something very immoral about trading one's core beliefs for government silver.  If I was the owner of Trijicon, and was a truly devout believer, I would start sweating a little about that first interview at the pearly gates. The whole stinking business only confirms my fears about why the great powers will probably always struggle to defeat shepherds who believe in something.  The new versions should be called the Judas editions.

[MechAg94]

I wish Trijicon had told them to bite it.  My logical side understands the issue, but my emotional and faithful side doesn't buy in.  I'm not all that religious myself, and I understand the realities of staying in business and why some people are offended...but there is something very immoral about trading one's core beliefs for government silver.  If I was the owner of Trijicon, and was a truly devout believer, I would start sweating a little about that first interview at the pearly gates. The whole stinking business only confirms my fears about why the great powers will probably always struggle to defeat shepherds who believe in something.  The new versions should be called the Judas editions.

I think I see the reason they did it.

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.

I would take them off also.  It doesn't really impact their personal principles and it might put in jeopardy the jobs of a lot of people who work for them if they lose the contract. 
I am surprised it hasn't come up sooner.

[Balog]

I seriously, seriously doubt the decision to put references on there had anything to do with faith. It was a marketing thing, that they took off when people started whinging.

[Perd Hapley]

A marketing thing that almost no one ever seemed to notice?  A marketing thing they apparently didn't use when actually, ya know, marketing the product? 

I don't know why they did it, but marketing gimmick doesn't seem like a satisfactory motive.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

the south african owner of the company was a very serious guy about his faith.  he died in a plane crash about 4-5 years back

[De Selby]

We have reached a new low as a society - we now worry about the emotional comfort of our enemies before we capture them.

Has a lot more to do with our allies than our enemies - it doesn't help them to have this portrayed as religious warfare.

[Devonai]

I told this story to the armorer at work today, and he pulled out an ACOG.  Sure enough, there it was, right after the S/N: John 8:12.

[BryanP]

Freedom of religion does not mean freedom from religion.

Depending on the context, yes it does.

But in this case ... meh.  If I were given one of those Trijicon's and really didn't like it, it seems to me that I could fix it in a couple of minutes with a dremel and some alumablack.

[Gewehr98]

Wonder if they'll be collectable with the scripture references left intact?

(Kinda want one now...)

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

they sold stuff with the numbers for 23 years before mikey didn't like it

[Marnoot]

Wonder if they'll be collectable with the scripture references left intact?

(Kinda want one now...)

I think they're still going to be on units sold commercially, just removed from the .Mil ones.

[Antibubba]

The photo I saw had "JM812" at the end of the serial number.  The company shouldn't be putting New Testament stuff out there--there are very real safety issues with "turning the other cheek" on the battlefield.  Stick with Old Testament--that's where the smiting is at!

[makattak]

The photo I saw had "JM812" at the end of the serial number.  The company shouldn't be putting New Testament stuff out there--there are very real safety issues with "turning the other cheek" on the battlefield.  Stick with Old Testament--that's where the smiting is at!

I bet it had JN812. I am very amused by Jeremiah 8:12, though:

"Were they ashamed because of the abomination they had done? They certainly were not ashamed, And they did not know how to blush; Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; At the time of their punishment they shall be brought down," Says the LORD.