New religious tactic to fight gun control in CA

andrewsw16

Here's something new. One Sikh is claiming gun control laws in CA violate his Contitutional rights to practice his religion, which requires them at all times to be armed to protect themselves and others against injustice. Interesting, because if the courts rule in his favor, everyone else of that religion and other religions could demand equality before the law and basically just nullify the laws on religious grounds.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/mar/28/sikh-man-cites-religion-lawsuit-against-gun-contro/

Riomouse911

All of the Skihs I know carry a dagger, which is a religious commandment. It has nothing to do with firearms, which is too bad and prbably won't be upheld based on the Sikh religion:

From Wiki:

The Kirpan (/k#618;#601;r#712;p#593;#720;n/; Punjabi: #2581;#2623;#2608;#2602;#2622;#2600; kirp#257;n) is a ceremonial sword or dagger carried by baptized Sikhs.[1] It is a religious commandment given by Guru Gobind Singh (the tenth Guru of Sikhism) at the Vaisakhi Amrit Sanchar (a holy religious ceremony that formally baptizes a Sikh) in 1699, all baptised Sikhs (Khalsa) must wear a kirpan at all times along with other Articles of Faith. Although not all those who identify themselves as Sikhs carry a kirpan, it is one of the five articles of faith required to be worn by baptized Sikhs.[2][3]

The word Kirpan has two roots - the first root is: Kirpa, which means "Mercy, grace, compassion, kindness" and the second root is Aan, which in turn means "Honor, grace, dignity".

Sikhs embody the qualities of a "Sant-Sipahie"-a saint-soldier. One must have control over one's internal vices and be able to be constantly immersed in virtues clarified in the Guru Granth Sahib. A Sikh must also have the courage to defend the rights of all who are wrongfully oppressed or persecuted irrespective of their colour, caste or creed.

The kirpan has both a physical function, as a defensive weapon, as well as a symbolic function. Physically it is an instrument of "ahimsa" or non-violence. The principle of ahimsa is to actively prevent violence; the kirpan is a tool to be used to prevent violence from being done to a defenseless person when all other means to do so have failed. Symbolically, the kirpan represents the power of truth to cut through untruth. It is the cutting edge of the enlightened mind.

A baptised Sikh, a Khalsa Sikh, is a "Sant-Sapie", or a 'saint-soldier'. To satisfy this term, one must first become a saint and then a Soldier. As a saint one must have total control over one's internal vices and be able to constantly be immersed in five virtues as clarified in the SGGS. Only then can a Sikh become a soldier. Also, the Khalsa is "Akal Purakh de fauj" - the Army of God. Guru Gobind Singh clearly chose these words very deliberately - He did not state that the Khalsa was the army of the Khalsa or an army of the Sikhs or the army of Punjab - but an Army of God whose function was the protection and safeguarding of all the peoples of God regardless of religion, race or creed.

andrewsw16

In the article, the man accounts for that interpretation, that while the religion specifically calls for carrying a kirpan, he interprets it to mean that he should carry whatever weapon is needed to effectively protect himself and others. i.e. a modern hicap weapon. The libs are in a bad place on this. He ISN'T a Christian, whose values they love to degrade, and he IS a minority, whom they love to pander to. [:D]

Laredo Lefty

quote:Originally posted by andrewsw16
In the article, the man accounts for that interpretation, that while the religion specifically calls for carrying a kirpan, he interprets it to mean that he should carry whatever weapon is needed to effectively protect himself and others. i.e. a modern hicap weapon. The libs are in a bad place on this. He ISN'T a Christian, whose values they love to degrade, and he IS a minority, whom they love to pander to. [:D]


That's a key phrase, his interpretation will probably mean squat to a court. I have known some Sikh families. One was involved in scouts with my son. I had never known them to carry daggers, visibly anyway. I suppose they could have had them hidden.

kannoneer

I read about a Westerner who was friends with a Sikh and asked to see his knife. The Sikh swallowed hard and slowly produced it. After the Westerner examined it, the Sikh cut his arm and sheathed the weapon. It seems whenever they draw their knife, blood must be drawn.

Riomouse911

I still don't think that'll fly, but it is a novel argument. The Sikhs I know have told me that the males have 5 religious icons they must have at all times as a sign of their faith: unshorn hair (head and beard), a comb, an bracelet, undergarments, and a dagger. The most obvious things we'll see are the beard and turban, which they wear over their long hair. Often the dagger isn't visible, but much like a good CCW handgun, it's there if it's needed.

ChrisInTempe

His religion has a similar expectation to my religion. He calls his Sikh'ism I suppose?

Mine's called American'ism.

Just without the hair.

Good luck Mr. Sikh!

Sperry

California does not have a restriction on the length of one's fixed blade knife, last time I checked.

Amish

The muslims have no problems getting firearms even in new york

http://archive.org/details/IslamInAmerica

andrewsw16

I don't know a lot about Sikhs except the ones I have met are good citizens in my small town. They join together with other family members and start small businesses and you pretty much never see one on welfare. Whoa, what a concept. An immigrant that helps his family get ahead through hard work. [:D]
The other thing I have heard, while talking with counterparts in the British military is the respect they have earned as soldiers. Extremely professional, loyal, and fierce. Especially, fierce. No enemy ever wanted to be taken prisoner by a Sikh unit. [:D][:D]

ChrisInTempe

quote:Originally posted by Amish
The muslims have no problems getting firearms even in new york

http://archive.org/details/IslamInAmerica


Wrong religion. Not even remotely connected to Sikhs.

Marc1301

One of my mothers old docs was a Sikh.
Nice as could be, and top rated in this area.

He moved back up north somewhere just last year to be with his aging parents that didn't want to move here.

Glad I never asked about his knife![;)]