Washington, DC – Interfaith Alliance President, Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy issued the following statement today following a report from ABC News that U.S. military weapons have been inscribed with coded biblical messages by their manufacturer, Trijicon. The issue was brought to the attention of ABC News by the Military Religious Freedom Foundation. According to the report, the inscriptions on the weapons were done without the knowledge or permission of the military.

Reports that coded biblical verses have been inscribed on gun sights used by the U.S. military by their manufacturer are extremely disturbing and should be investigated by military authorities and the practice stopped immediately. Religious undertones have all too often been a part of military rhetoric and actions in recent years. Following reports in the last year that biblical verses regularly were printed on a defense department documents and accounts of proselytizing by military personnel in Afghanistan, this latest incident adds to the perception that religion rather than national security is at the heart of our military’s presence abroad. 

Obviously, Trijicon, the defense contractor, knew they were doing something wrong and trying to get away with it or they would not have encoded messages that, when used appropriately, need no disguise.  The company should be ashamed of its actions, which do no favor either to the United States military or to Christianity; just the opposite.  Messages of life and peace should not be prostituted by placing their imprint on instruments designed for death and war.

As a Christian, I am offended by Trijicon’s dismissal of the criticism saying that the organization raising the issue is “not Christian.”  This is not a time for attacking critics, it is a time for Trijicon to clean up its behavior.  As a patriot of this nation, I am outraged at this corporation’s lack of appreciation for our first freedom—religious freedom—and its corollary of separation between institutions of religion and institutions of government.  As an advocate for inter-religious cooperation, I am saddened by this insensitive effort to minimize people who do not embrace Christianity.

I call on the Department of Defense to conduct an immediate and thorough investigation of this incident, and take appropriate action if any laws were broken. Once again I repeat my call from last year for Commander-in-Chief Obama to direct the Secretary of Defense to institute policies that amid efforts to assure national security he also ensures protection for our nation’s Constitution and its promise of  protecting freedom and not promoting religion.

For more information on Interfaith Alliance’s call last year for the Secretary of Defense to institute new polices visit: https://interfaithalliance.org/news/293-interfaith-alliance-statement-on-bible-verses-in-bush-era-intelligence-reports
 

Interfaith Alliance is a network of people of diverse faiths and beliefs from across the country working together to build a resilient democracy and fulfill America’s promise of religious freedom and civil rights not just for some, but for all. We mobilize powerful coalitions to challenge Christian nationalism and religious extremism, while fostering a better understanding of the healthy boundaries between religion and government. We advocate at all levels of government for an equitable and just America where the freedoms of belief and religious practice are protected, and where all persons are treated with dignity and have the opportunity to thrive. For more information visit interfaithalliance.org.