Magic NZDF weapons - but not for much longer
In the NZ Herald today (Link to article is here).
Biblical citations on NZDF weapons to go
The Trijicon Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight rifle sights used by Kiwi troops were supplied with references to Bible verses that appeared in raised lettering at the end of the stock number, The Press newspaper reported today.
Markings included "JN8:12", a reference to John 8:12: "When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life'."
The markings were also on sights used by the United States and British military.
Defence Force spokesman Major Kristian Dunne said New Zealand, like other nations, had been caught unaware and the Defence Force was unhappy the manufacturers did not make it aware of the citations.
The American manufacturer would be told not to put the inscriptions on further orders and the letters would be removed from existing gun sights.
However the take-home quote for me was:
The American manufacturer, Trijicon, said the American military had been a customer since 1995 and the company had never received any complaints about the scripture citations.
(My emphasis)
Which just goes to show that skeptics have to stand up to woo, otherwise our silence is taken as assent.
Good call...
I have to say though - I can understand why they never recieved any complaints...
I saw a picture of one before I knew what was going on and I had no idea why someone had taken a picture of what looked to me like some sort of serial number...
It wasn't until it was pointed out to me that I noticed it was a bible verse...
You'll notice as well that they say something along the lines of "we don't tell anyone that they're there..."
I guess that makes it a "stealth weapon". ;-)
I don't see this story as a very big issue. The two bible verses were just a play on the word 'light' since the company made weapon sights.
But it is good that Trijicon responded to consumer complaints.