Posted on 08/07/2012 7:43:27 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
While the shootings at the Sikh temple will no doubt inspire more calls for "gun control," I very much doubt that the Sikhs themselves will be among those calling for the citizenry to be disarmed.
I'm hardly an expert on Sikhism, but I am a dilettante; I know at least a little bit about a great many things, and some of the few things I know about Sikhs are relevant to a discussion of the shootings at the Sikh Gurdwara (temple) in Wisconsin and renewed calls for "gun control" that are sure to follow.
I believe Sikhs to be among the world's most noble and spiritual people. They are tolerant and peaceful, but they are not pacifists nor are they necessarily "non-violent". They understand that violence can be a necessity, and they have distinguished themselves as warriors, particularly on the side of their British colonial rulers during WW I and II.
Sikhism originated as a protest against many of the negative aspects of Hindu theology and culture, in particular polytheism and the caste system. Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, categorically rejected the caste system as being contrary to the humanitarian and egalitarian elements of the Sikh creed.
It is part of the Sikh creed to stand against injustice, and to defend the weak and the downtrodden, regardless of religious or ethnic persuasion.
One element of the Sikh creed is that Sikhs shall always be armed (I believe it was the Tenth Guru who decreed that Sikhs shall always carry a sword. And he said "When all other methods fail, it is proper to hold the sword in hand"). This is often expressed in the carrying of a small dagger or sword (a "kirpan"). This is a symbol of a Sikh's commitment to protect the weak and to promote justice.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
Discussion of Sikh Gurdwara shooting and concealed carry
FReep Mail me if you want on, or off, this Wisconsin interest ping list.
In case no one has reminded you lately, criminals don't care about gun laws. Places that have gun laws still have murders with what? Guns. And in the case of the shootings at the aforementioned tragedies? No one returned fire. In other words, the people in the theater were already disarmed! How are gun control people going to spin that?
Just a guess here, but if several people in either case had returned fire, the body counts would have been less tragic. Sorry about the dead people but nut-jobs, gangs and crooks don't give a rip...
I am starting to like them, too bad one or the other did not have a concealed carry permit.........unfortunately a dagger is no match for a gun
The author makes an excellent point; at the founding of their creed, their scripture demanded they be armed at all times.
Unfortunately, having a dagger at the ready is a bit outmoded.
In fact, in light of the march of history, and of recent events in particular, they might want to rethink their governing philosopy and require that all Sikhs, at all times, carry a quality semi-auto and know how to use it.
BUNS DON’T KILL PEOPLE!CARS DON”T KILL PEOPLE!!Need I say MORE???????????????????????????????????
The gun control nuts seem to forget that the greatest act of domestic terrorism, the bombing of the Federal Building in Oklahoma City, was accomplished WITHOUT the use of any fire arms. Ditto the terrorism of 9-11 was accomplished without the use of any fire arms. Terrorist nuts will always be with us and their choice of weapons makes little difference to those who are killed. Even countries like Australia where gun ownership is virtually banned still have murders committed with fire arms.
I would LOVE to see the NRA offer to train the Sikhs in the safe and legal use of firearms to protect themselves.
This incident should prove to the Sikhs, and everyone else, that the police can not protect you from violence.
Citizens, trained and armed, are the only protection for their family and loved ones.
Thats the way its done here in America; welcome.
GUNS don’t either. :)
GUNS don’t either. :)
1) You cannot completely protect anybody from the actions of others. If you keep weapons out of the hands of the insane, the criminal, and the violent, you will have to limit everyone’s access to weapons. Potential weapons include practically everything: firearms, cars, trucks, planes, boats, sharp objects, insecticides, prescription drugs, and on and on.
2) The most recent deranged killer was a Neo-Nazi. Nazi are not extreme right, as noted by the press. They are extreme LEFT. Why, in Heaven's name, doesn't anybody stand up and say that THE NAZI PARTY IS A SOCIALIST ORGANIZATION!
This little secret is why the left wing teachers union doesn't teach history in the classroom anymore (unless they think a historical figure was a homosexual).
Today, they teach Social (Socialism) Studies instead.
Whenever I hear a young skull full of mush supporting the democrats agenda, I mention this. At first they don't believe me, but my confidence gets them thinking, especially when I laugh and tell them to check it out for themselves.
It took a gun (police officer) to end the massacre.
According to Mayor Bloomberg they do. ;^)
Sorry, that rumor is not true.
It was started by the Southern Poverty Law Center. They have a list of 1018 hate groups in this country - according to them.
They heard the guy had a 9/11 tattoo, a shaved head, and figured he must be racist - like everyone else who is white.
FOX reported the it was just "speculation" on the part of the Southern Poverty Law Center (gee! Who'd a guessed?), and there still is no known reason why the guy did this.
Somehow.....I get the gut feeling the white house is mixed up in this....why else would India point the finger at the WH?
Maybe some enterprising gun company could name a model of handgun “The Kirpan” so the Sikhs can do both.
Additional information has come out since then - Page was indeed a Neo-Nazi.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.