Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Biblical inscriptions to be cut from NZ troop weapons

Updated at 12:06 pm on 21 January 2010

References to biblical passages on gunsights used by New Zealand soldiers in Afghanistan are inappropriate and will be removed, the Defence Minister says.

Wayne Mapp says he was unaware of the references on the Trijicon sights until he saw reports that the US military is reconsidering its contract with the company that makes them.

A spokesperson for the Defence Force, Major Kristian Dunne, says 260 of the sights are in use. The military has been buying them from an American manufacturer since 2004 and was not aware the inscriptions were there.

The inscriptions follow a sight's individual stock number. One of the references is JN8:12, which comes from the New Testament book of John.

Dr Mapp says having the lettering on the gunsights is fundamentally wrong, could be easily misconstrued and could raise religious tensions.

Major Dunne says the lettering will be removed, and says Defence Force is unhappy that the manufacturer gave no indication it was there. The company could not be reached for comment.

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