No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeTopicsBusinessUS arms maker markets Christian assault rifle called 'The Crusader'

US arms maker markets Christian assault rifle called ‘The Crusader’

An arms maker in Florida is engraving Christian symbols on its assault rifles, in a marketing ploy denounced by a Muslim group as fomenting “hatred, division and violence.”

The “Crusader” assault rifle is inscribed with the cross of the Knights Templar, a religious order that fought in the Crusades, and a Bible passage — features that its maker, Spike’s Tactical, says are intended to keep the weapons out of Muslim hands.

“We wanted to make sure we built a weapon that would never be able to be used by Muslim terrorists to kill innocent people or advance their radical agenda,” said Ben “Mookie” Thomas, spokesman for the company, which is based in Apopka, Florida.

In a promotional video (see above), “Mookie” explains, “I just blurted out, ‘I want a rifle that no Muslim trrrrrist can use to murder innocent people. And, uh, I half expected to be fired or at least not taken serious [sic]. But they took the ball and they ran with it.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=7&v=JqjvgTIoOuQ

‘God’s assault rifle’

The assault rifle is inscribed with the words “God Wills It,” along with Psalm 144:1: “Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle.”

According to “Mookie,” who claims the rifles have been a hit with the company’s customers, “The Christian symbols would prevent the guns from being shipped to the Middle East.”

“We sold out of rifles in the first 72 hours and there’s a backlog of several weeks,” he said, declining to say how many have sold.

"Christian" assault rifle.
(Screengrab from Spike’s Tactical Crusader PR video)

The Florida branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations issued a statement decrying “this manufacturer’s fancy new gun.”

“This is just another shameful marketing ploy intended to profit from the promotion of hatred, division, and violence,” it said.

Thomas, asserting he is not a bigot, insisted: “If they think the word of Jesus Christ causes hatred, they don’t understand Jesus Christ.”

Trending Now

Marriott Expands in Costa Rica with Adventure-Focused Hotel

Marriott is set to grow its footprint in Costa Rica by opening a new hotel in the Central Pacific area next year. The Santa...

How to Grow Broccoli Successfully in Costa Rica’s Highlands

In Costa Rica's cooler highland regions, home gardeners harvest fresh broccoli that brings a distinct flavor to everyday meals. This vegetable packs vitamins A,...

Guatemalan Migrant Children Fear Deportation by Trump

At 15, I.B. fled poverty and an abusive father in Guatemala. She emigrated alone to the United States, like hundreds of children living in...

Tourist Numbers Dropped in Costa Rica During 2025’s First Seven Months

Costa Rica's tourism took a hit in the first seven months of 2025, with visitor numbers dropping compared to the previous year. By the...

Costa Rica Presidential Candidate Fernández Reports Spy Device

Laura Fernández, the presidential candidate for the Pueblo Soberano party, revealed on Tuesday that she discovered a concealed microphone in her personal office, raising...

Panama Denounces New U.S. Pressure Over Chinese Companies

Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino on Thursday accused the United States of pressuring Panamanian officials to reduce the presence of Chinese companies in the...
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica