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.