Your thoughts: scopes with Bible verses - Army News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Army Times

Your thoughts: scopes with Bible verses

For more than 20 years, rifle optics manufacturer Trijicon Inc. has been etching Biblical references onto U.S. troops’ scopes.

The practice went seemingly unnoticed until controversy erupted in recent days with an outcry from religious rights advocates. The Military Religious Freedom Foundation says the references give insurgents a chance to claim the U.S. is waging a holy war.

Trijicon’s Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight, for example, contains the marking “JN8:12,” a reference to the Bible verse 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.’”

We want to hear from active-duty troops. Do you have those markings on your Trijicon scope? Do you appreciate the Bible references or do they offend you? Do you want them removed in the future? Will insurgents use this to their advantage?

E-mail your thoughts to reporter Dan Lamothe. Please include your service, rank and unit.

Read more on the controversy here.