Sihk kirpan controversy in Quebec

[Dale Seago]

I think the main problem here is that a good number of Sikhs do indeed carry functional kirpans, which could be easily used as a weapon.

And other things.

Some years ago I and my then-wife (whom I trained up to 8th-degree black belt level in the Bujinkan) were as volunteers providing training assistance in patrolling tactics and self-defense to a neighborhood-watch group in San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district called "Residents Against Drugs", or "RAD". During the course of this we of course went out on patrol with them quite a few nights.

One night a Sikh couple (man & wife) approached our team and thanked us for being there and for the work we were doing. I & my wife glanced at each other, nodded to each other, and I asked them, "Hey, could we talk to you guys over here away from the group for a minute?"

Out of earshot of the team, we introduced ourselves and I handed them my card. I told them we also appreciated THEM being around for the safety of their community, and assured them that neither I nor my wife had any problem with the fact that they were carrying concealed firearms; nor would we tell anyone.

Their eyes widened and they were speechless for a bit; then the husband simply thanked us.

Some months after that they got in touch with us (had my card, remember?) and we got together for a wonderful dinner. We explained the things that had tipped us off -- which, frankly, most law enforcement professionals would not have picked up -- showed them how they could do it better, etc. That being a night when we were not in any sort of "under public scrutiny" role, as I recall we also showed them what we were carrying, which definitely trumped their own stuff.

BTW, I and my ex have both been in positions where, though civilians, we were legally "carrying firearms for a living". I ain't sayin' whether or not this was one of those occasions, but I did want to mention that.

[Lallans]

In our national news today is the information that kirpans are now finally and officially banned from the Quebec legislature. There is a comment from the house leader that while multiculturalism may be practiced in Canada it is not a policy in Quebec. Point finale! (Quebec french for that's it, period!)

[CMcG]

As an experiment, it would be interesting for someone to kilt up and go to the Quebec legislature with a sgian brew (or other sgian don't) in their hose. I'd like to see if the security would stop the person with the assumption that it was actually a sgian dubh.

This would allow us to determine a couple related things while preventing the investigator from any legal repercussions.

1) Is it a no knife policy or a no kirpan policy?
2) How is Scottish heritage officially perceived to fit into Quebec i.e. could it be no knives except for the sgian dubh?

[Lallans]

As an experiment, it would be interesting for someone to kilt up and go to the Quebec legislature with a sgian brew (or other sgian don't) in their hose. I'd like to see if the security would stop the person with the assumption that it was actually a sgian dubh.

This would allow us to determine a couple related things while preventing the investigator from any legal repercussions.

1) Is it a no knife policy or a no kirpan policy?
2) How is Scottish heritage officially perceived to fit into Quebec i.e. could it be no knives except for the sgian dubh?

If you volunteer, I'll see if I can arrange for the video....

[be da veva]

As an experiment, it would be interesting for someone to kilt up and go to the Quebec legislature with a sgian brew (or other sgian don't) in their hose. I'd like to see if the security would stop the person with the assumption that it was actually a sgian dubh.

I'm game. I've been to quite a few govermental buildings without any problem, but then again, very few govermental building have security personels...

[Lallans]

I'm game. I've been to quite a few govermental buildings without any problem, but then again, very few govermental building have security personels...

Seriously? Let us know what happens. While it's not in Quebec, I know it is necessary to empty one's pockets and go through a scan upon entering the federal House of Commons, and they have swiched to plastic cutlery in the cafeteria there just like an airline....

[Drac]

So are they banning the carrying of all knives or just saying that they won't have sihks carrying them? Also is the ban on the full size kirpan or just kirpans? If it's just kirpans that would be a opening for attacking even the ceremonial and jewelry based ones.

I can feel sad for their lose. There is at least one gentleman who is sihk in my company and while we were at a black tie event for our company he was in his full gear as was I and I will tell you he made a much more impressive image than I did in my kit. His wife was a vision in her sari.

Jim