Gunman, six others dead at Wisconsin Sikh temple

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

All but members of the most orthodox temples carry kirpans that couldn't cut a cucumber. Blunted on purpose. Purely ceremonial.

And the vast majority don't carry 24/7 anymore. It's not exactly welcome in most places anymore, not even in Indian Punjab.

Yeah, I was reading the laws in some of the various jurisdictions in the US for the wearing of kirpans. It seems many of them are purely ceremonial like you said, even to the point of having the kirpan permanently glued into the sheath so that it can't possibly be drawn.

Do they have to be licensed to carry?

As a religious item, it is protected by the first amendment.

[^_^ 5,021]

Yeah, I was reading the laws in some of the various jurisdictions in the US for the wearing of kirpans. It seems many of them are purely ceremonial like you said, even to the point of having the kirpan permanently glued into the sheath so that it can't possibly be drawn.

As a religious item, it is protected by the first amendment.

Even in India. Even in Punjab where Sikhs control the state government... there are strict laws against carrying in most places. Especially anywhere near government buildings. I mean, how bad does it look that if they tell a Muslim not to show up at the post office with a bomb strapped around his body but then they let in a Sikh with a freakin' sword? It just doesn't work.

Edited August 6, 2012 by Habitual Offender

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Even in India. Even in Punjab where Sikhs control the state government... there are strict laws against carrying in most places. Especially anywhere near government buildings. I mean, how bad does it look that if they tell a Muslim not to show up at the post office with a bomb strapped around his body but then they let in a Sikh with a freakin' sword? It just doesn't work.

Well, with all that hair on their heads, they could smuggle almost anything in that headgear. I wonder how often TSA checks inside those. I remember in the day of huge Afros and cops having to check those for weapons and contraband.

[^_^ 5,021]

Well, with all that hair on their heads, they could smuggle almost anything in that headgear. I wonder how often TSA checks inside those. I remember in the day of huge Afros and cops having to check those for weapons and contraband.

We moved back to India shortly before Indira Gandhi was assassinated. I was 9 when it happened but living in a very political household I heard a lot. One thing I remember hearing that I never forgot was how lots of Sikh people were cutting off their hair and shaving their beards and even getting legal name changes so hide the fact that they were Sikh... just so they could avoid being attacked and killed by Hindus who were mad at them all because Indira's assassin was Sikh. I remember asking my mom why we didn't just move back to California (we were in the Bay Area prior to the move back) and my mom just shrugged.

[Nooblord 10]

Obviously Obama's fault, why didn't he save them?

[Penguin_ie 5,996]

** two posts containing personal attacks and one quoting same removed. Also, let's be careful not to use this tragedy to stereotype and racial or religious groups...***

[Teddy B 17,252]

Why is this being referred to as "domestic terrorism" by authorities? What constitutes something to be labeled as domestic terrorism? The movie theatre shootings in Colorado were never labeled domestic terrorism, yet seem to be the same type of incident.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

** two posts containing personal attacks and one quoting same removed. Also, let's be careful not to use this tragedy to stereotype and racial or religious groups...***

Can it be a personal attack if it didn't make any sense?

[^_^ 5,021]

Why is this being referred to as "domestic terrorism" by authorities? What constitutes something to be labeled as domestic terrorism? The movie theatre shootings in Colorado were never labeled domestic terrorism, yet seem to be the same type of incident.

The designation of “domestic terrorism” under the FBI’s rubric — which was not applied to the Aurora, Colo., theater shooting — implies a political agenda. The FBI defines terrorism as “the unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.”

LATimes

[Teddy B 17,252]

The designation of “domestic terrorism” under the FBI’s rubric — which was not applied to the Aurora, Colo., theater shooting — implies a political agenda. The FBI defines terrorism as “the unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.”

LATimes

Ok, so where is the intimidation or coersion in this case?

[^_^ 5,021]

Ok, so where is the intimidation or coersion in this case?

If the shooter was a white supremacist and targeted Sikhs to make a point, that is intimidation of a segment of the civilian population (Sikhs) in furtherance of a social objective.

See, all those years of parsing VJ TOS have finally paid off.

[Teddy B 17,252]

If the shooter was a white supremacist and targeted Sikhs to make a point, that is intimidation of a segment of the civilian population (Sikhs) in furtherance of a social objective.

See, all those years of parsing VJ TOS have finally paid off.

I fully understand what the definition of terrorism is, whether it be foreign or domestic, I'm just wondering what evidence there is that this was actually terrorism. To my knowledge nothing has been released to support the terrorism label.

Just the fact that you knew what the word "parse" meant is impressive all by itself. I had to look it up.

[^_^ 5,021]

I fully understand what the definition of terrorism is, whether it be foreign or domestic, I'm just wondering what evidence there is that this was actually terrorism. To my knowledge nothing has been released to support the terrorism label.

They never release everything they know as soon as they know it. That's kind of how it works.

[JohnR! 5,495]

Ok, so where is the intimidation or coersion in this case?

IMHO both were acts of domestic terrorism, and I say this just because you can't sentence someone to death on a charge of absolute and unmitigated stupidity.

[Teddy B 17,252]

They never release everything they know as soon as they know it. That's kind of how it works.

Then they shouldn't label it "domestic terrorism" until they are able to release the reasoning of why it is such.