Spike’s Tactical in Apopka, Fla. etched its new $1,395 assault rifle with a Bible verse that says “Blessed be the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle,” MyFoxOrlando reported.
The rifle’s magazine is laser-etched on one side with a Knights Templar Long Cross, a symbol used during the Christian Crusades to reclaim the Holy Land from the Muslims. And of course, on the other side is the bible verse, Psalm 144:1.
Company’s spokesman, former Navy SEAL Ben “Mookie” Thomas, says he came up with the idea and believes no devout Muslim would touch the rifle. Thomas told the Orlando Sentinel, “Off the cuff I said I’d like to have a gun that if a Muslim terrorist picked it up a bolt of lightning would hit and knock him dead.”
Thomas, an Iraqi war veteran says the idea materialized for him when he heard news reports of ISIS terrorists being trained with guns made in the United States. He insists the “Crusader” is not meant to be racist.
When the “Crusader” went on sale Wednesday, there was immediate condemnation of the weapon. The Council on American-Islamic Relations of Florida sent a statement to FOX 35, saying in part: “Sadly, this manufacturer’s fancy new gun won’t do anything to stop the real threat in America: the escalating problem of gun violence. This is just another shameful marketing ploy intended to profit from the promotion of hatred, division, and violence.”
When the rifle debuted online, Spike’s Tactical received emails calling Thomas “hateful,” and many other things. Pastor John Fischer of First United Methodist Church of Apopka said he didn’t want to question the motive of gun makers, but he certainly understands why Muslims would be offended.
“If I were them, I would definitely find it offensive and conversely if they were putting Koran verses on their guns I [would] find it offensive,” Fisher said. He said a rifle is “perhaps the least desirable” place to put a Bible verse.
“It’s hard for me to reconcile a scripture verse on a gun when Jesus told us to love our enemies.”
Interestingly, Thomas says they would never make an assault rifle with verses from the Koran for Muslim marksmen. But, he added, they do make an assault rifle for women called “Pure Estrogen.” Oh, and lest we forget, Thomas says there are three trigger settings on the “Crusader,” Peace, War and God Wills It.
From the comments on the different news sites, it seems this latest marketing ploy is being seen as “a good reason to get guns into the hands of good Americans,” says one comment. Others think it is a racist marketing scheme against Muslims. What do you think?
