Sikhism and the Kirpan: A Concealed Weapon or Religious Freedom?

Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.

The purpose of this blog post is to discuss the legality of having a Sikh Kirpan in public

What is a Sikh Kirpan?

Sikhism is a religion that not many Americans are knowledgeable of, yet is one of the most easily recognizable religions in the entire world. Baptized Sikhs, called Khalsa, have five articles of faith that they must display to be identified as Sikh. First, Kesh, or uncut hair. Second, Khanga, or a wooden comb. Third, Kara, the metal bracelet. Fourth, Kachera, a specific cotton undergarments that look roughly like boxer shorts, and fifth, the Kirpan, a strapped, curved sword or dagger. Now, the purpose of this blog post is to discuss the legality of having a Kirpan in public. This is especially relevant with all of the gun control issues running rampant in our country, so a discussion on a semi-hidden blade that is required to be worn as a Sikh is quite relevant.

The Sikh Kirpan and the US Government

Now, it is important to preface this discussion by saying there have already been several court cases regarding the Kirpan, with both New York and Ohio ruling that preventing a Sikh from wearing their Kirpan is unconstitutional. However, a lot of this ruling is determined if the Kirpan is sealed shut so that it cannot be withdrawn. So, the real question is can the Kirpan still be an effective religious symbol for the baptized Sikh and be welded shut? According to the states of New York and Ohio they are. However, many Sikh’s opt to decline invitations to events instead of simply take of their Kirpan.

They are, after all, guaranteed freedom to practice their religion in the United States, but only if it does not put themselves over their contemporaries. For example, although Jews don’t have a ceremonial knife that they have to wear, they are allowed to wear yarmakkah’s whenever and however they please. The only difference is that yarmakkah’s don’t possess the ability to inflict bodily harm upon others. Indeed, Sikh’s are allowed to wear their other four articles of faith, but the Kirpan is literally a weapon that can inflict harm.

Many ask why the Sikh’s simply weld the weapon shut, like the school children in New York do. While that may seem practical to non-Sikh’s, it is my opinion that Sikh’s find that option distasteful and disrespectful to their religion. I can understand why, but I also understand security issues, especially in recent times. For a little while, I thought it would be wise to require Sikh’s who wish to wear their Kirpan get a special weapon permit that allows them to legally wear the Kirpan, and ask them to switch out a sealed shut Kirpan during amiable conferences and religious discussions.

Why Don’t Sikh’s Just Leave their Kirpan Home?

Many Sikh’s have opted out of religious conferences instead of removing their Kirpan’s, but if they have a weapons permit, and/or they use a ceremonially sealed blade, wouldn’t that not only fulfill their requirements but also serve as a sign of respect to other religions who are also represented in this country? Again, the Lemon test guarantees equality in religious practices in this nation, and if the court has already deemed sealed Kirpan’s acceptable uses of the Kirpan, why wouldn’t Sikh’s respect these accommodations?

I understand that they feel this is infringing upon religious freedom, but if they have unsealed Kirpan’s on their person, that literally allows them to have an upper hand on any other religion, and that’s unconstitutional, at least in my opinion. I’m not asking them to remove their Kirpan’s nor ask them to disrespect their own faiths, but rather respect the Constitution and the interpretation of that Constitution by the court system.

Not to mention, this is only in special circumstances, such as a conference or a school building. They can still have their Kirpan’s on their person in a normal, daily behavior. Even asking them to get a weapons permit for their Kirpan is simply another formality to be a baptizes Sikh. Otherwise, the Sihk’s could very well attempt to put themselves over other religions in their right to bear arms, and that, again, is unconstitutional.

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