A Florida gun manufacturer has been facing criticism for creating a "Crusader" assault rifle with a Bible verse on it, saying it is meant to stop "Muslim terrorists" from using it.
Ben “Mookie” Thomas, former Navy Seal and company spokesman, told the Orlando Sentinel that “no devout Muslim” would dare touch the weapon.
"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," he said.
Images of the AR-15 Crusader rifle posted online by Spike's Tactical in Apopka show an emblem of a cross inside a shield similar to those used by the Knights Templar during the Crusades on one side.
The other side features Psalm 144:1: "Blessed be the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle."
The rifle gun sparked huge criticism for targeting Muslims.
Hasan Shibly, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations of Florida (CAIR-FL), responded to the gunmakers by asking "Is it designed for Christian terrorists?"
Shibly said that out of 205 mass killings in the US, only one massacre involved a Muslim.
He added that CAIR-FL opposes any form of religious extremism and that the gunmakers “don't have to do outlandish things for us to engage them.”
Moreover, CAIR-FL issued a statement in response to the weapon, which retails for $1,395 with a manufacturer’s lifetime warranty.
“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,” the statement reads.
In July, CAIR filed a lawsuit against the Florida gun store which declared to be a “Muslim-free zone.”
The Florida gun shop occupied headlines after its owner, Andy Hallinan, announced that he would "not arm and train those who wish to do harm to my fellow patriots" at his Florida Gun Supply in Inverness.
CAIR also called upon the Department of Justice to prevent further businesses from “harming the right to religious freedom.”
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