# US military weapons inscribed with secret bible codes **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 19, 2010, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-weapons-inscribed-with-secret-bible-codes/525518 "2010-01-19T03:36:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-weapons-inscribed-with-secret-bible-codes/525518/81 "2010-01-19T22:10:17Z")
> [@magiver](#): > > … he should engrave the gun sights with the words “god is great”. Something like this [الله أَكْبَر](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takbir)? 😉 CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-weapons-inscribed-with-secret-bible-codes/525518/82 "2010-01-20T00:49:03Z")
> [@gravitycrash](#): > > Well shit. I guess the Marines need to pack up and leave the middle east so as to not offend the Muslims. Or at least they need to stop saying: God, Country, Corps. That phrase doesn’t seem to be an official Marine Corps motto. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-weapons-inscribed-with-secret-bible-codes/525518/83 "2010-01-20T00:51:17Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > That phrase doesn’t seem to be an official Marine Corps motto. Beats me how “JN316” in small characters on a gunsight is a problem, either. Now if it was computerized and automatically targeted nonChristians, it might be a problem, though it would be kinda cool, I admit. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-weapons-inscribed-with-secret-bible-codes/525518/84 "2010-01-20T00:55:22Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Beats me how “JN316” in small characters on a gunsight is a problem, either. On a gunsite being sold to Jews and Muslims for use in their Armies? On gunsites issued to Jewish and Muslim American soldiers defending a country that supposedly values freedom of religion? It does not belong on government equipment. PERIOD. Not to mention the huge fucking IO campaign it affords the Taliban and other AAF. I’m sure it will be fine when the Afghanistan National Army Commandos get word that the weapon sights given to them by the United States have references to the Lord Jesus Christ on them. … no big deal at all. ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-weapons-inscribed-with-secret-bible-codes/525518/85 "2010-01-20T01:00:11Z")
Personally I don’t see what’s wrong with baptising babies without their parent’s consent. I mean, it’s not like it kills anybody, so why should anybody mind? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-weapons-inscribed-with-secret-bible-codes/525518/86 "2010-01-20T01:03:10Z")
Oh, boo-fucking-hoo… Has anyone asked an actual combatant if they give a fuck what the letters and numbers on his weapon can be interpreted to mean? Do we need a list of forbidden abbreviations that could be references to bible books? This is a case of people looking for things to get offended about, and I say that confidently as a Jewish atheist army reservist who’s used military scopes and doesn’t care what the part numbers are, as long as the damn thing works. Besides, if the Afghans don’t have access to New Testaments, they can’t translate the magic code, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-weapons-inscribed-with-secret-bible-codes/525518/87 "2010-01-20T01:07:23Z")
> [@Argent Towers](#): > > Off topic but it’s very weird to see a childish-sounding nickname like that, or any nickname at all - in quotes, no less - thrown into an otherwise-professional article. What is the deal with that? It’s not like Weinstein is some kind of household name and the majority of readers would be familiar with his nickname. Mikey Weinstein may not be exactly a household name, but he’s certainly a public figure, particularly in the context of activism against unconstitutional endorsement of religion in the US military. He’s the founder of the [Military Religious Freedom Foundation](http://militaryreligiousfreedom.org/about.html), and he is widely known (in news media references and elsewhere) as “Mikey” rather than “Michael”. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-weapons-inscribed-with-secret-bible-codes/525518/88 "2010-01-20T01:13:21Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Oh, boo-fucking-hoo… Has anyone asked an actual combatant if they give a fuck what the letters and numbers on his weapon can be interpreted to mean? Do we need a list of forbidden abbreviations that could be references to bible books? This is a case of people looking for things to get offended about, and I say that confidently as a Jewish atheist army reservist who’s used military scopes and doesn’t care what the part numbers are, as long as the damn thing works. Does an American infantryman who has actually shot the enemy using the very scope in question count? How about one who is currently deployed in Afghanistan patrolling alongside Afghan National Army soldiers? Or how about a squad leader who has a Muslim in one of his fire teams? I fit all of those qualifications. And I think it is fucked up for Trijicon to do such a thing. The possible ramifications are huge if this becomes well known. Like the IO campaign I mentioned. American weapons do end up in the hands of the enemy. Johny Taliban only needs to show this sight and the inscriptions and the explanations that it’s a “secret Jesus code” to get the wheels turning in their favor. Trijicon had a lot of fucking nerve, that’s for sure. ---
**Author:** ![Chopper9760](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cdc98d/32.png) [@Chopper9760](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chopper9760)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-weapons-inscribed-with-secret-bible-codes/525518/89 "2010-01-20T01:15:04Z")
Trijicon makes really good scopes, I mean _really_ good. This is a ridiculous thing to be up in arms about. We’re at war with these people, I’m pretty sure they don’t give two shit’s what’s written on the scope we use to _kill them_. I hope they are at least given the chance to change their ID system instead of losing the contract outright because Trijicon is miles ahead of other tactical optics manufacturers. The real travesty here would be if the effectiveness of American servicemen were undercut by a series of letters and numbers. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-weapons-inscribed-with-secret-bible-codes/525518/90 "2010-01-20T01:17:54Z")
> [@Chopper9760](#): > > Trijicon makes really good scopes, I mean _really_ good. This is a ridiculous thing to be up in arms about. We’re at war with these people, I’m pretty sure they don’t give two shit’s what’s written on the scope we use to _kill them_. Who is THEY? Are you forgetting that American soldiers can be Muslim? Imagine for a second you are a Muslim soldier fighting in Afghanistan against the Taliban. Fighting for your country that respects all religions and holds no god higher than any other… and that country issues you a scope (or ANY item for that matter) with inscriptions that declare Christ is Lord? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-weapons-inscribed-with-secret-bible-codes/525518/91 "2010-01-20T01:18:14Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > Does an American infantryman who has actually shot the enemy using the very scope in question count? Did it work? If so, why are you looking for things to get outraged about? ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-weapons-inscribed-with-secret-bible-codes/525518/92 "2010-01-20T01:18:48Z")
> [@Chopper9760](#): > > Trijicon makes really good scopes, I mean _really_ good. This is a ridiculous thing to be up in arms about. We’re at war with these people, I’m pretty sure they don’t give two shit’s what’s written on the scope we use to _kill them_. > > I hope they are at least given the chance to change their ID system instead of losing the contract outright because Trijicon is miles ahead of other tactical optics manufacturers. > > The real travesty here would be if the effectiveness of American servicemen were undercut by a series of letters and numbers. Is there a law against inventory numbers that relate to the bible? what if it was kJP4L3 ? ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-weapons-inscribed-with-secret-bible-codes/525518/93 "2010-01-20T01:20:21Z")
Trijicon, while I have already admitted makes a scope without equal, has undermined true American values and the strategic efforts of the US Military. I am pissed at them for having the audacity to do such a thing. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-weapons-inscribed-with-secret-bible-codes/525518/94 "2010-01-20T01:22:12Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Did it work? If so, why are you looking for things to get outraged about? I wouldn’t say I’m “outraged”. And I’m not _looking_. It was shown to me in this thread. Trijicon overstepped their bounds. It’s pretty obvious. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-weapons-inscribed-with-secret-bible-codes/525518/95 "2010-01-20T01:25:29Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Is there a law against inventory numbers that relate to the bible? what if it was kJP4L3 ? What if it was ‘AllA4U-AK8AR’? Glen Beck wouldn’t be stroking out right about now? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-weapons-inscribed-with-secret-bible-codes/525518/96 "2010-01-20T01:28:12Z")
I’m still puzzled as to why they’d do this even though I don’t actually care. I try to imagine the company memo that mandated this, but I get stuck at “And from this point forward we’ll incorporate references to bible passages in our part numbers because . . .” and then I draw a blank. Some sort of insurance so their particular God doesn’t look down on them for making things used to kill people? What? ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-weapons-inscribed-with-secret-bible-codes/525518/97 "2010-01-20T01:29:34Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Is there a law against inventory numbers that relate to the bible? what if it was kJP4L3 ? FWIW, it’s not an inventory number or other id system. It’s a superfluous code. It’s not a batch number or manufacturing code or anything. At second glance, it doesn’t even come after the part number. Though, the first part of the inscription is descriptive, the whole line can be removed. It says “ACOG4X32 JN8:12” ACOG4X32 is descriptive of the type of optic, but it’s not a part number or anything. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-weapons-inscribed-with-secret-bible-codes/525518/98 "2010-01-20T01:30:55Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > Yes indeed, a "childish nickname’ suggests he must be childish and his statements must be ignored. Nice job of poisoning the well. Now please explain why his nickname means something and we should not take him seriously. You never, ever, _ever_ fail to completely miss the point of anything I say. Ever. EVER. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-weapons-inscribed-with-secret-bible-codes/525518/99 "2010-01-20T01:32:00Z")
Just for shits and giggles, I am going to hit the Bazaar tomorrow. They sell Chinese knock-offs of just about _everything_–including Trijicon ACOGs. I want to see if they copied that little detail. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-weapons-inscribed-with-secret-bible-codes/525518/100 "2010-01-20T01:35:29Z")
The interesting thing is that there are huge numbers of WWII (and even WWI) guns floating around the Middle East (and Afghanistan). Lee-Enfield rifles are especially popular, and many of them (Especially in Afghanistan) will be stamped **GRI** on the wristguard- _George Rex Imperator_ (King George, Emperor [of India].) Does that mean the users condone Imperialism or support the British Crown? Completely the opposite. It’s a silly thing for this company to have done, but getting worked up over it isn’t helping either. And telling your opponents “Our gunsights have Secret Bible Codes on them” isn’t going to win any PR awards either… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-weapons-inscribed-with-secret-bible-codes/525518.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-weapons-inscribed-with-secret-bible-codes/525518.md?page=6)