[leewgrant]

KorbenDeck KorbenDeck:

leewgrant leewgrant:

I would call it a practice or tradition, not a cultural matter - in fact, most Americans do not go around carrying guns.

Practices and traditions are part of culture.

There is unquestionably an element of inconsistency in our approach, all due to politics.

Kirpans are legal, even though they are a weapon. Clitoridectomies, practiced in some cultures, are illegal here, something I agree with. It all depends who has more clout with the politicians - and human rights commissions.

Afterthought: Clitoridectomy may be a bad example since most people would regard it as mutilation and violence against the person. Perhaps I should have used polygamy, practiced in many places and basically tolerated for years in BC but now charges have been laid against the Mormon sect in Bountiful. Realistically we may have to be selective as to what other cultural practices we tolerate.

[Choban]

I can't find 1 instance on google where a kirpan was used as a weapon.
It's a religious symbol and they have a legal right to wear them in Canada.

The staff at this concert shuld have been better informed, on the other end who organized the show, it is their responsability to ensure that hired staff are aware of the nature of the event so if anyone gets sued it should really be the promoters (who are probably of punjabi/indo decent).
Don't even start (or continue) comparing them to guns either, it is nowhere near the same issue.

[QBall]

Choban Choban:

I can't find 1 instance on google where a kirpan was used as a weapon.
It's a religious symbol and they have a legal right to wear them in Canada.

Really? You obviously don't know how to use Google:

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20080623/punjab1.htm

The manager said priest Pishora Singh and his son Pargat Singh stabbed Ranjit Singh with a Kirpan. While Pishora was arrested, his son absconded.

http://www.sikhcoalition.org/LegalCanada5.asp

There have been, in the Metropolitan Toronto area, three reported incidents of violent kirpan use. One involved a plea of guilty to attempted murder after a stabbing with a kirpan. In one street fight, a man was stabbed in the back with a kirpan. In one case, a kirpan was drawn for defensive purposes.


http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070314/cth1.htm

One person was stabbed to death following an altercation between two rival groups of a truck operators’ union here today. Karnail Singh, a resident of Naraingarh village in Haryana who worked as a driver, was seriously injured after he was allegedly stabbed by a small kirpan.

http://fracturednation.ca/Religion/The% ... ermath.htm

It appears that our young Sikh was concerned that two classmates, twin boys, who, all agree, are intellectually challenged, were following him too closely. At one point, it is alleged, he not only took out his Kirpan but the hairpin used to keep his hair inside his turban (devote Sikh don’t usually cut their hair) and threatened the twins.

http://www.legalserviceindia.com/articles/cri_m.htm

In Jaiprakash v. State (Delhi Administration) , the appellant was having illicit relations with wife of the deceased and his visits to her house were resented and objected by him. On the day of occurrence, the accused visited the house in absence of deceased armed with a kirpan. When deceased came and objected to his presence there was only an altercation and exchange of hot words and not a fight. Thereupon, he took out the kirpan and stabbed on the chest of the deceased resulting in his instantaneous death.