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Summary of Question:	Religious Freedom????????????
Category:	Sikh Practices
Date Posted:	Monday, 6/05/2000 7:45 PM MDT

Sat Sri Akal,

Recently, i graduate from High School in United States, and i learned lot about government, basicly about Civics (Amendments). According to the first amendment, We(citizens of America) have the full right of religious practices. But, according to the american school system in all american states no students have right to bring any kind of weapon. I am talking about public schools. So how the Amritdhari sikh have his religious freedom to carry a kirpan to school. In many states you can't wear kirpans in public, I mean you have to keep kirpan inside your shirt, so whats the point it makes me feel that we(sikhs) don't have the religious freedom.I understand that We(sikh) have lots of religious freedom in United States than any other country except U.K . Still there is no law or bill signed by any high authority that gives right to sikh people to wear kirpan in public. Sikhs can make it happen to pass the bill if they spend more time on these type of topics.


Just give me some idea about his topic.


Gur Fateh...
Vicky Singh

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Reply:
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You are very correct in your observation. Yes, it difficult when you are told that you cannot wear your kirpan to school. Unfortunately, there is a problem of violence in our public schools.

You should check and see what the law is for the length of the blade of a knife that is legal to carry. I do believe that a blade under 4 inches is legal to carry. This rule would vary from State to State. You could ask a Sikh attorney or perhaps an attorney for your state what the rules are.

Another possibility is to wear a tiny kirpan in your joora under your turban.

Victory to you and God bless you.