Should sikhs be allowed to carry the kirpan dagger in school?

Question

I'm sorry, but what if it were part of my religion to carry a gun? A weapon is a weapon, no matter what its symbolism. Whats stopping someone from pulling it out in a fight? There should be no exceptions!

Answer 1

I agree with you - The separation of church and state - that is the key to a progressive society. (said with the utmost respect for religion, let me make that clear) - Now, fi the sikhs wanted to have their own school and allow the kirpan, that would be okay with me.

Answer 2

A scene from the movie Casino comes to mind. A guy insults Joe Pesci in a bar when Pesci asks if a pen laying on the bar belongs to the guy. So Pesci picks up the pen and repeatedly stabs the guy in the neck. There's another movie, and I can't think of the name, where a guy pulls off another guy's glasses and uses them to stab the guy in the neck.

Point is that if someone wants to hurt someone else, they will find a way to do it. I carry a knife all the time, mostly out of it's utilitarian usefulness, and have managed to never stab anyone. A friend of mine carries a concealed pistol (he is former special forces and took the approriate classes to get licensed) and he has managed to never pull it out, much less shoot someone.

I think that some of the idiots I went to school with shouldn't have been allowed to carry baseball bats, which are much heavier and have a longer reach than a dagger, but they were. Also, the javelins they throw during track meets could hurt someone, and it could easily be made to look like an accident, but those are allowed. Hockey sticks can be dangerous too. And I think in Biology class we had scalpels - those are definitely sharp. In Chemistry and Physics we even got to use bunsen burners, which are basically just small blowtorches. Also, many people drove cars, which kill way more people every year than just about any other weapon.

Where do you draw the line?

From what I understand, the daggers are mostly symbolic and are not sharpened as a weapon would be. Make a rule that the dagger stays sheathed if it makes you feel better, and let a little tolerance and diversity into the school.

Answer 3

A weapon is a weapon. YOU said it, I repeated it. A weapon need not always be in physical form. We are all equipped with weapons: hatred, jeoulsy, sin, bigotry, and selfishness. We carry them with us all the time.

Native Americans use the Peyote drug to reach enlightenment and attain a nirvana, as guided for in their anceint religion. Why, when this issue was brought to the supreme court, did we reject faith and pursue rationalism? When has our country become one to support materialistic definitions instead of moralistic values?

When did you decide to judje the sikh--that the materialistic definition of his kirpan is that it is a dagger--you completely dismissed its moralisitic value: "no matter what its symbolism".

And in any case, a weapon is a broad term. You cannot define it with a single entity. A weapon is only a weapon when it is used as a weapon. We CHOOSE to use hatred as a weapon. We CHOOSE to use guns as a weapon. Sikhs CHOOSE to use the kirpan as a weapon. Otherwise this object, or term, remains dormant until something provokes a response in it, in which case I believe the person will have good reason to use it.


Think beyond the box.

Answer 4

From what I know the Kirpan is hidden under the clothing and is concealed in the sheathing; only a baptized Sikh can carry it - follows strict religious teachings and cannot misuse it.

The baptized Sikh follows the teachings of their religion strictly, unlike in other religions where kids are baptized as a formality and grow up not following a single tenet of their religion.

Answer 5

They call me fantastic - You wouldn't be narcissistic by any chance would you ?

The problem is not so much the dagger - but religion in the first place, regardless of whether it was a ceremonial dagger or an uzzi submachine gun ! The problem is about identity and answers to the big questions no one has answers for - if you don't know - make something up - hence religion - believeing in one's self takes a lot more gutts - capeesh !

Answer 6

As a Witch, I use a small assortment of bladed weapons in my daily practices, from cutting herbs to operating on the fabric of reality itself. And although I have every right to own and use them, I don't have the right to carry them in public, at least not in my area. It's a danger to the public peace. Not that I'd be dangerous myself with it, but that anyone could walk by, pick it out of its sheath at my hip, and go on a rampage with it.

*edit*

Jayelle makes an excellent point. Perhaps the old custom of "Peace Knots" could be re-instituted. A long time ago, it was law in a lot of cities to tie your swords and daggers into their respective holders with leather straps while inside city walls. The knots tied were "Peace Knots". In a heated argument, one would have to stop and think clearly enough to unravel the time-consuming knots if they wanted to lash out. By then, they'd likely have reconsidered their actions. However, if there's a practical need for it (You need to cut a rope for some reason, your foot gets caught and you have to cut your shoelaces, etc) you can still have access to it.

Answer 7

It would dishonor the blade to have it used in a fight.

Yes, I think it should be carried, and sheathed at all times. Anything can be made into a weapon if a kid is motivated. Common objects in schools that I can think of include staplers, baseball bats, sharpened pencils, nail files, heavy books, letter openers, and steel rulers. I would hope you wouldn't want those banned.

Then again, I also think a kid should be able to carry a Swiss Army knife if they wanted. Great for getting lockers unstuck!

Answer 8

They are very serious religious people and can be trusted to carry the weapon as it is for a good purpose only. They would never use it wrongly. it is to protect the faith.( just do not knock their faith)

Answer 9

i agree, no weapons in schools.

even if the person that has it would never think of useing it. someone else may very easily grab it from them in a fight and hurt somebody with it.

besides if they can carry their Kirpan, then i would demand to ba allowed to carry my Athme, and a Satanist could demand rights to carry their ritual dagger, and i Wiccan could demand the right to carry their sword etc,,,,,,,

Answer 10

No. Weapons are universally prohibited at schools, for good reason. So, I agree with you.