Trijicon's Subtle Christian Messages
Here’s a little-known bit of information about Trijicon optics. Did you know that, for many years, Michigan-based Trijicon Inc. has discretely placed references to Bible passages on Trijicon optics products? Look carefully at the codes on the side of Trijicon optics and you’ll note Biblical references “hidden in plain sight” next to manufacturer product numbers.
ACOG Scope — ACOG4X32JN8:12
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.'”
RMR Red-dot — RM01 2PE1:19
2 Peter 1:19 — “And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts[.]”
There are discrete Scriptural references such as these on every optics product Trijicon sells. It’s an interesting feature, we bet few of you knew about… until now.
So, I suppose you think that Americans who happen to be Jews and Muslims and other non-xtian religions should totally support your ignorant ass when you are out there, protecting our religious liberty to be free of the very stuff you want to stand for my country. This is my country, not just your’s, jerk. That’s what I really hate about xtians. Their desire to cut everybody else out of the picture.
I’m sure they never sell any of their stuff to anybody in the middle east, not even Israel because of course those people don’t believe Jesus was the prophesied saviour. And of course they won’t sell their stuff to any hindus either, so India is straight out. Probably none of their stuff is for sale to anyone who isn’t a believer in the same version of xtianity that you are. Doesn’t that make you feel so much better, knowing that for profit businesses follow your reasoning and belief system so very closely?
Worst Debate Tactic Ever: Take your opponent’s argument to a ridiculous extreme and then attack the extreme.
The simple… but apparently not simple ENOUGH for some of you… fact is, this is something that should NOT be a part of anything that’s used by our military. At BEST, it gives some of our troops the mistaken idea that they have some kind of “holy edge” on their enemy. Those scopes only make the rifle as accurate as the guys looking through them.
At WORST, if that enemy does get hold of those, and finds those Bible references, and figures out what they are, YES they will start yelling about “Jesus Rifles” and “Crusades”, and you know what?
They’ll be RIGHT.
Shame on Trijicon for pandering to the brainwashed masses. If I wanted mindless religious rhetoric shoved down my gullet I would join a church. What an embarrassment to independent thought
i repeat
HOORAW for TRIJICON! .. it does my heart good to think of a jihadist centered in an inscribed sight..thanks TRIJ! .. it’s comforting to know you’re around..
you other folks .. just get over it…
Note 1
The first amendment says:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion”. It does not say ‘establishment of A religion’, but rather “of religion”. This means that congress cannot pass a bill of any sort that would “establish” religion. Purchasing Christian Bible references on gun sites most certainly “establishes religion”.
Note 2
Even though the majority of the people in these States United are Christians, the State of Wyoming put it best in their constitution – 97-1-007.
“No absolute, arbitrary power.
Absolute, arbitrary power over the lives, liberty and property of freemen exists nowhere in a republic, not even in the largest majority.”
Which would indicate that there are a lot of unAmerican ideas being floated here. Many damming to the idea of freedom for all. The Christians may see it as some kind of joke, but the rest of us don’t. We consider it a serious matter of freedom.
I believe so, but then ask all the dead slaves that died for their freedom. Maybe they have a more relative answer.
Actually that is exactly what it doesn’t mean, but then again, an enemy generally believes what he wishes.
>you other folks .. just get over it…
It’s ironic that those of us in the scientific community have been saying the exact same thing to the hardcore Christians who keep attacking well established scientific models such as Evolution and the Big Bang. Yeah, just get over it – grown ups talking here.
Thank God for a company that will uphold the precious word of our Father Jesaus Christ
My first question would be;
Does the equipment do the job required?
If the answer is YES then get over it people.
Sorry, wasn’t aware that this was a PC liberal Blog.
I think the people Trijicon should make the atheist version of their optics or call it the ACLU special, of course instead of a verse it would have their toll free number inscribed!! You see something through the scope that you can not handle, say maybe a cross on a hill you just call that number on your scope and they will take it from there! As for me put John 14:6 on mine.
It flabbergasts me to think there are so many athiests in the United States. To whom to they give credit for their existence? Apes? The big-bang theory. Oops-different subject. As I sit here in Afghanistan during my time off, I find myself praying more, not less. As my son prepares to deploy, I turn to God and ask Him to protect my son, and to give me strength. The fact that nearly 80 percent of military members consider themselves Christian (much higher than the American public)implies to me that we are a Christian nation with Christian principles. The fact that every time we lose a fallen hero we pray inspires me to carry on. Should we deny our faith because it offends Athiests or non-Christians? Doing that would have allowed Jesus Christ to spare His own life. If you don’t like the bible verse scratch it off. On Judgment Day (Oh yes, there is a Judgment Day)you may need help – as we all will. But know this, as a Christian, I pray for all non-Christian people that they may some day find Jesus Christ, whether it be on their Trijicon site or in a fox hole or on Judgment Day. Trijicon: if keeping in faith with the founder of your company you lose a few customers, know this, you have gained supporters and your work in Christ is appreciated.
It is not prohibited by the miltarys contract, so the manufacture can place it there untill such time that it is. I do not here anyone in the military complaining, just those on the side lines. It is the best optic made for the enviroment it operates. Do you want the best or less than without the inscription? Or does any of that matter to you ? I think there are enough issues going on in america right now without this being one. Please enough. One thing is for sure we will all die one day and you had better be sure as what is reaklly on the other side. Do you really know ? I would be real sure if I were you.
You left out a very important part, it says “or prohibiting the free excercise thereof.”
I just ordered another ACOG, HOOAAH
C’mon people, lighten up. Trijicon should be free to manufacture and market their product however they want. The rest of us should be free to buy or not buy based on our own assessment of the product. Let’s respect the other individual’s rights.
Thanks to 6mmbr.com for pointing this out.
Do the references to verses improve the accuracy of the scopes?
Will removal of the references to the verses reduce the accuracy of the scopes?
In light of the Constitution and General Order 1, the answer to the two above questions are dispostive of the issue.
With all the serious issues there are in the world to be concerned about, I can’t believe there is so much chatter about nothing. To those of you that call yourself Atheist, how is anyone that doesn’t read the bible even going to know what those markings mean. And it certainly doesn’t infringe on your rights to be an Atheist.
And to those of you that call yourself Christians, I would remind you that Jesus said, I have not come to heal the well. Placing scriptures only in sacred places sounds like something the Scribes and Pharisees would do. And I hope and pray to God that you are not insinuating that all of our men and women serving in the armed forces are not Christians, because of their service. Because FREEDOM ISN’T FREE and without it you wouldn’t be able to post or state your beliefs.
I will close by saying, about 40 years ago as just a kid in a strange land. With an assignment ahead of me seemingly impossible and scared out of my mind. I open up a new replacement K-Bar and found that someone had written on the inside of the oil paper the simple marks “Ps.23”. From my childhood I knew what that meant and I recited the 23rd Psalm to myself. I can’t say that God condoned or not what we where doing but I can say that it gave me the courage to trust God. And I came back from that mission, alive and un-wounded. And I did not have to kill anyone else either. I don’t think it was a miracle that those markings where there. But I was very thankful that someone had the for site to write them on that paper.
made in the USA and Christian – can’t get any better than that! The military has no right to demand these code be removed nor do they have the right to discriminate against this company by pulling the contract. If they do, I’ll help with fund legal recourse.
This was not a typical contract purchase…
This was a COTS purchase, without a mil-spec citation. Thus, there is no receiving inspection. Many soldiers and marines bought these with their own money to use overseas, which is fine by me, as these can stand up to the rigors of combat.
Also,companies are always able to use their own markings for tracking/control purposes. The bible is also considered a literary piece. The actual ‘scriptures’ kinda actually are somewhat fitting giving the actual function of the equipment… and I am a devout atheist… It don’t bother me any, didn’t when I had mine mounted on my M4A1 in my time in the sand box… all 47 months I spent over there… hell I never noticed either… and besides, how is a muslim gonna have any Idea of what it means, until people like you make an issue of it? Also, there is difference between seperation of church and state, and the way the military works… military issues bibles… and torahs, and korans… but it is the military… they are exempt from so many provisions ordinarily thought of. Furthermore… when something is needed, and in critical demand for operations, you don’t hold up an order for something silly and small like this. Besides, if an Iraqi or Afghani (or other person form another muslim country for that matter…) got close enough to see it, you have other issues to worry about.
Sure I will say that it is pretty stupid that they have it on there, however you must keep in mind this was a COTS purchase order (Commercial Off The Shelf) which the military has been doing more of recently, as sometimes the cost and time to drum up specs, and all that time and processing costs more, than finding a commercially viable product that fulfills mission needs, and can pass through endurance testing. Now the models at question here are not the ones developed for USSOCOM. These are commercial models that were ordered, and the only ones with this on them.
The way the media is spinning this, that they have “Bible passages (or verses)” is also off track. They do not have passages or verses, they have references, a HUGE difference…. Also seeing as how the only people to really get the reference would be a christian, kinda hard to say it is religiously insulting… but then again, I bet you bitch about one nation under god, or the in god we trust, or the preamble to the constitution while we are at it. Separation of church and state only applies to the state cannot control or regulate religion, nor could they sponsor or dictate a religion to be supreme. This in no way violates such clause…
You can custom order an Upper from DPMS or armalite with them on it, however make sure you tell them you need it to be or exceed mil-spec, and expect a 3 month lead time…
Each has their pros and cons… ACOG is great for some of the more spread out terrain in afghanistan, and some parts of Iraq… the M68 is great for anything under 200m, the EOTech is a little more precise, but not as good for the very in close stuff, but great for anything in the open to 300m or so… I used a TANSN01 model (the USSOCOM model) and an aimpoint. Kept both handy in case I was nearing a village or heading into a larger open environment. I also had an AimPoint/M68 on the secondary MG in the turret on mounted missions (secondary was M249 with M240 primary, or M240 with M134D or M2QCB Primary) and a M145 MGO on the primary.
Hmmmmmmm… As i read all this I wonder, would there be such a big deal with these markings if the markings on the Trijicon products refered to a Quranic verse? I think not. Does the product perform worse do to those “terrible” Christian references? Nope. The fact that people are pitching such a fit about Trijicon putting a Biblical reference that serves to invoke the Gods blessing on its users is just malicious. I can understand if you are a U.S. soldier, and you have differing religious beliefs, scrape it off (with permission of course!). If you are a civilian and you don’t like it, DON’T BUY ONE or just STOP WHINING! God Bless Trijicon for making a product that helps our troops do the job that THEY ARE ORDERED TO DO. Let us remember, we have troops all over the world, in places other than Iraq and Afghanistan, on humanitarian and peacekeeping missions. God bless our troops. And finally, God bless those who are lost, and do not yet know the love and peace of God.
Would that be the same god that wrote this:
“they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”
-Isaiah 2:4 KJV
How someone could find it appropriate to quote scripture on an implement of war is beyond me…
General Petreus is right…this was really disturbing. But the issue is overwith anyway since the company is supplying equipment to remove the inscriptions and will not produce more in the future, and foreign defense buyers are letting their displeasure be known. As is right. (by the way, I am religious, but, there is a time and place for everything…and I can’t conceive of a more inappropriate thing that what Trijicon used to do by putting those on guns)
Patrick – How do we know, “This was a COTS purchase, without a mil-spec citation.”
This has been going on for closer to 25 years that I know of. The owner of the company came from another country and became a u.s. citizen and felt as an american he would add just the number of a scripture he liked and he felt suited for its use. The dad is now deceased and the nicest person anyone could have met. Its a family owned bussiness and they would never do anything on purpose to ruin their reputation. I do not beleive in any religion having been bastized in 4 faiths and I could case less if the numbers are on my scopes at all. I will be the first to admit when I was shot I prayed to my father.
I love GOD, and I love Trijicon products. The Trijicon BDC reticle is uncanny accurate and lightning fast to acquire. The lit reticle is as a light in the darkness. God bless USA.
WOW,
I have been trying to decide which optic to put on my customized daewoo. Now I know without a doubt I will put a Trijicon on. But since it costs more i will have to wait a little longer. That’s ok the best things in life often are not quick and easy. God bless the USA.
The disturbing thing to me is the almost-60% ‘for’ comments above.
None of these people seem to understand the nature of this issue — that the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause applies here, as the products are manufactured for a government contract; that the concept of a ‘Crusade’ is one which AlQaeda and other extremists have promoted – and that this action plays right into their hands.
Given these comments, a person might well rightly assume that 60% or more of America’s conservative/religious right actually supports a religious war or ‘Crusade’ in the middle east!
(“Remember – Science and Reason flew us to the moon — religion flies people into buildings.”)
thank you for being a (real man ) and saying that we need more like you .
This is so funny. 99.9% of users of this equipment would be none the wiser if it hadn’t been pointed out to them by this huge /storm. Loltastic. Now stop crying, don’t you know there’s a war on?
If the best things in life are not quick and easy you should buy no scope and rely on pure skill!
I’m military and I own 3 ACOGs that I’ve had for a few years. After hearing about this “scandal” my opinion on the optics hasn’t changed. They’re the best thing out there. Maybe there IS some divine intervention each time I fire. I’ll keep supporting the company for what they provide; a high quality product. They can laser-engrave microscopic verses all over the thing for all I care.
First of all, this is not a scandal. It is a shame that Trijicon has agreed to stop imprinting the verse numbers on their products. The real shame is our country, like Trijicon, was founded on religious belief by DEVOUT Christians.
If you don’t like the gun sights, don’t buy them. If the thought of having a constant reminder of his faith on his most important worldly possession while he is in combat; makes a soldier feel more at ease, or maybe sleep a little easier at night, then fine by me. After all, the 5 or 6 letters & numbers don’t mean anything to anyone unless you open up the Bible and read the scripture.
If you’re a Muslim and don’t like it, tough shit. I wish the Military would have the Lake City Arsenal stamp little crosses on each round they produce.
If Trijicon stops imprinting the verses on its products, then the Muslims will have won.
Last Time I read a Dollar Bill it said, In God we Trust!
Well lets be thankful that we have such companies such Trijicon, that are led by their beliefs to make the best optics possible to protect our lives, rights and all the other freedoms we are given. God Bless you Trijicon!
All you other individuals that want to grind off the verses. Shame on you for being so petty! Grow a set!
The simple fact is that Trijicon is a private company that can put whatever they damn well please on their optics. buying optics that happen to use christian verses as model numbers doesn’t show respect for christianity, especially when they are relatively well hidden, they are simply buying a good product. Both sides that are trying to turn this into some sort of holy war, whether you think its inappropriate to put the verses on in the first place or if you think “the muslims will win if they take them off” your both idiots. Trijicon can do what they damn well please, support there beliefs or not, Stop trying to take away there right to choose their own product ID numbers under the incredibly stupid concept that them exercising their freedoms somehow affects yours.
For all of you posting your anti-whatever rants here, get a clue!
BRUCE: The first amendment states that congress shall not establish religion. Did you get that? Congress cannot make you worship one way or another, DUH! This is a private company creating their own serial numbers. GET OVER IT! I think that their freedom of speech granted by that same constitution is being well-exercised right now!
I wonder if these POS whiney girl like negative Nellies still have the same outlook in 2022? If you don’t like it, don’t buy it.
Great work owning your Constitutional right to display the Word of God on your products. Even so subtly, it drives the godless, whiney, intolerant liberals mad. It only shows the fear in their hearts of the great power of God. Trijicons are a tool to defend against people just like that, that only have tolerance for people that think just like themselves.