[stan_sipple]

Right they are called kirpans. there were some cases i remember in canada and michigan where middle eastern immigrants insisted on the right to carry these weapons because they were religious symbols.

[drungus]

Kirpans. That rings a bell. I don't doubt that there were such cases - how did they turn out? I'm guessing by your earlier comment that they were legitimate religious symbols?

One other thing though, Sikhs are from India - - maybe not appropriate to refer to them as from the "middle east"? Pretty good friends with us in the WoT as I recall as well.