ABC News: Secret 'Jesus' Bible Codes on ACOGs

[Felch]

It doesn't bother me at all. This is a company that sells illuminated optics. On their scopes they have references to biblical quotes about light. Seems to be thematically consistent at least. Are you bothered by Ernest Hemingway titling his book "The Sun Also Rises?" What if they spend government money teaching it in public schools?

Referring to biblical passages is not the same thing as proselytizing.

[rah]

Yeah but we know how sensitive these types of things are dealt with. If a political cartoon can generate riots and death threats, it's probably not a good idea to reference biblical quotes on weapons used. But yeah still trivial.

[Felch]

**** them. Seriously. There is no reason whatsoever why we should compromise our freedoms (in this case, religion and free expression) in order to placate crybabies. If Muslims kill each other over this, then that just proves once again what a depraved and retrograde society they belong to.

[onodera]

Would they fire small Jesuses around?

They would fire crucifixion nails.

[rah]

It is silly, but I'm not that worked up about it Felch.
If it is indeed against the rules then it shouldn't be allowed.
IF it's not really against the rules, "screw em"
If it is indeed against the rules then maybe the rule should be reviewed.

[Patroklos]

[Felch]

That's cool, rah. I just hate this sentiment that we have to be sensitive to the feelings of a bunch of atavistic ****** half a world away.

I seriously doubt it's against the rules. It's not like Trijicon is engraving iconography into their scopes. It's just a few letters and numbers with a colon.

[Kuciwalker]

It's not something that I'm worked up about, but seriously guys? Jesus on your freaking rifles?

QFT. But also:

Jesus Rifles would be awesome.

[Dinner]

"I like your Jesus but your Christians are so unlike him." - Gandhi.

[Imran Siddiqui]

**** them. Seriously. There is no reason whatsoever why we should compromise our freedoms (in this case, religion and free expression) in order to placate crybabies.

Because of a little thing called the Constitution and military rules prohibiting this type of thing...

[DaShi]

Maybe they should print "What would Jesus do?" on the sights of the rifles.

[DinoDoc]

Because of a little thing called the Constitution and military rules prohibiting this type of thing...

There are no military rules prohibiting this sort of thing and I don't see how an alphanumeric code steps on any Constitutional toes. Other than it making the rifles totally awesome, what's the problem?

[Felch]

Because of a little thing called the Constitution and military rules prohibiting this type of thing...

The Constitution forbids the establishment of a religion. It has no authority over private companies, and explicitly prohibits the Congress from infringing on the rights of individuals.

As far as military rules, I don't know what the UCMJ says about this. According to the article, even the military isn't sure if they're going to do anything. You're the lawyer though, so feel free to enlighten us.

It would take an overly broad view of any rules to prohibit a private corporation from inscribing whatever it wants on the name of its products. Engraving "ACOG4X32JN8:12" onto a piece of military equipment is not establishing religion. If no one told you what it meant, you probably wouldn't even recognize it as anything other than a pseudo-random series of characters.

[rah]

Yeah, I would like to see the original rule that they were complaining it violated to see if it actually violated it or if was just a real wide interpretation to have something to complain about publicly. If there is a condition prohibiting religious messages, I would have to agree that even as discrete as these are, they would still be a violation since that was the (self confessed) intent of these.

[Imran Siddiqui]

The Constitution forbids the establishment of a religion. It has no authority over private companies, and explicitly prohibits the Congress from infringing on the rights of individuals.

Because these are just private companies over there in Iraq and Afgahnistan wielding these guns. Sorry, but when the Pentagon buys it, the rules apply to those goods and the soldiers who have to use those goods.

As far as military rules, I don't know what the UCMJ says about this. According to the article, even the military isn't sure if they're going to do anything. You're the lawyer though, so feel free to enlighten us.

The article forbids proselytizing, and having Biblical verses on your weapons can most definitely (and believe does) fall into that rubric.