Kirpan during Air Travel

MKAUR1981 · #10 (**permalink**) 15-Sep-2006, 17:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HannahBanana

What about school? We are not allowed to bring so called "weapons" to school.

1) Firstly, please do not call the Shri Sahib/Kirpan "so-called" weapon.

2) Secondly, it depends on what school you go. Certain schools allow them and have restrictions e.g have a small Kirpan.

Arvind · #11 (**permalink**) 15-Sep-2006, 20:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HannahBanana

What about school? We are not allowed to bring so called "weapons" to school.

Many schools, offices, governments allow sikhs to go with 5Ks. Wherever it is not allowed, sikhs are fighting their ways out. You may like to look at court verdicts in which school parents/teachers objected, but court favoured towards sikh rights.

CaliforniaSeeker · #12 (**permalink**) 15-Sep-2006, 23:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MKAUR1981

1) Firstly, please do not call the Shri Sahib/Kirpan "so-called" weapon.

I think what HannahBanana Ji meant is that they are not allowed to have anything that the school authorities consider a "weapon". Unfortunately, many people who don't know about Sikhi see a kirpan and think "dagger" or "knife" or "weapon". Over the past few years, I've seen many reports from SALDEF (the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund) about similar cases. As I remember, in most of them, SALDEF has been able to educate the local authorities and come to agreements that allow Sikhs to carry their kirpans without compromising the authorities' concerns about safety.

HannahBanana Ji -- from the reading I've done on the subject, my understanding is that kirpans come in a range of sizes, from quite large to very small. Some Sikhs choose to wear kirpans that are so small they're almost purely symbolic (I can't imagine using a 1-inch-long kirpan to defend anyone). In most of the discussions I've read, the participants eventually agreed that it's an individual decision.

kds1980 · #13 (**permalink**) 16-Sep-2006, 01:25 AM

to all

HB is just a 14 year old girl who is embracing sikhism.she also said that her mother is not supporting her.i don't think she can convince school authorities about kirpan.

HannahBanana · #14 (**permalink**) 16-Sep-2006, 02:58 AM

California Seeker, thank you, that is what I meant. I do not see it as a weapon. When I said "so called" I meant it as others might react.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/hard-talk/14188-kirpan-during-air-travel.html

And kds, true, which is why I am having trouble with this.

HannahBanana · #15 (**permalink**) 17-Sep-2006, 23:45 PM

Anyway, would it be possible for me to wear a small kirpan necklace?

kds1980 · #16 (**permalink**) 18-Sep-2006, 00:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HannahBanana

Anyway, would it be possible for me to wear a small kirpan necklace?

yes you can wear 1 inch kirpan as necklace.

HannahBanana · #17 (**permalink**) 18-Sep-2006, 03:20 AM

Great! Thanks!

BaljeetSingh · #18 (**permalink**) 25-Sep-2006, 07:08 AM

I always wondered about this sensitive question. I travel by air every week within USA and I do not carry kirpan of any size when I travel. I have never been able to find a convincing answer to this question.

Kirpan size does not matter (anymore). It used to be 3 feet long and then British minatuarized it to 6 inches...and now in USA, kirpan of 2-3 inches is allowed in schools. Carrying 1 inch kirpan as necklace is common. That day is not too far when people will just tattoo kirpan on their body and claim to be complete Sikh.