In Theory

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger this week vetoed a state bill affecting California’s Sikh community. State Assembly Bill 504, which passed both houses of the Legislature unanimously, would have directed police departments and law enforcement agencies statewide to educate officers and give them sensitivity training when dealing with Sikhs. At issue was how police officers have dealt with observant Sikhs who carry the kirpan, a ceremonial dagger that is an essential part of Sikh religious clothing, and which observing Sikhs are required to wear along with the turban. In some cases, Sikhs have been arrested for carrying these ceremonial daggers in public.

As a leader of your respective religion in the community, what is your perspective on this clash between public safety and the freedom of religious expression?

Was the governor right to veto the bill? Should police be more sensitive and trained better to identify religious wear or accessories that are integral to the many different religions that are represented in California — such as turbans, or the hijab, the head scarf worn by Muslim women?

By doing so, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger showed his lack of support for California’s religious minorities. As an immigrant himself, the Sikh community had hoped that he would support other minorities in our diverse communities of California. Sikhs have been in California for more than 100 years. There would be no clash between public safety and the freedom of religious expression if this bill would have become state law. This bill was introduced with hope of educating and helping to stop the arrests of Sikhs for carrying their kirpans in California.

Over the last few years, we have seen an increase in arrests of Sikhs nationwide and statewide for carrying kirpans. Police mistakenly believe them to be in violation of concealed weapons laws. Such arrests violate Sikhs’ rights, waste taxpayer money and have a traumatic effect on the person arrested. The bill did not touch on the legality of the kirpan; it asked that police officers be trained about who Sikhs are and learn about the significance of the kirpan, in hopes that religious understanding would decrease arrests.