Defence Secretary orders 'Bible guns' for Military
Soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq are fighting using guns that have quotes from the Holy Bible.
News that US soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan are issued with weapons carrying Christian beliefs 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.
However, American soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan are using guns bearing inscriptions referred to passages in the Bible.
Coded references to biblical passages are inscribed on gunsights widely used by the US and British military in Iraq and Afghanistan, it has emerged.
The markings include "2COR4:6" and "JN8:12", relating to verses in the books of II Corinthians and John.
Trijicon, the US-based manufacturer, was founded by a devout Christian, and says it runs to "Biblical standards".
Jesus on Guns
One, JN8:12 – chapter eight, verse 12 in the Book of John – reads:
"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'."
Another refers to a verse from Second Corinthians, which 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."
Bible Weaponry
The Military is using religion to boost moral of serving soldiers on the ground. Bible guns are being given to soldiers who say they feel better in using them to shoot the enemy.
The company who makes the sights, Trijicon, was founded by a devout Christian and its website says its "morals" are based on "biblical standards".
"We believe that America is great when its people are good. This goodness has been based on biblical standards throughout our history and we will strive to follow those morals" said Trijicon.
Department of Defence confirmed that weapons from the American manufacturer had markings carried on the same brand of sights used by US Marines related to New Testament verses.
The Advanced Combat Optical Guides (ACOG) sights bearing words of Jesus are made in Michigan-based firm Trijicon.
The latest guns were ordered as an accessory for 400 new Sharpshooter rifles due to go into Afghanistan later in 2010.
Made in the USA
The Defence Minister praised the weapons for their "highly-precise, long-range capability"
"Our priority is to buy the best performingequipment available on the market."
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