Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh !
It is with Waheguru Ji’s kirpa and with great pleasure and honour to inform
the Sikh Sangat of Queensland that the Weapons Amendments Act 2011 was
passed through Parliament on the 15th November 2011. The amendment to
section 51 will commence in law on the 2nd January 2012. What this means is that
Sikhs can now lawfully wear a Kirpan in Queensland.
We would like to thank Honourable Neil Roberts Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services, Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk Minister for Transport and Multicultural Affairs and Mr Bob Atkinson Queensland Police Commissioner, for their continuing support to enable us to have the Kirpan recognised as a religious article of faith. I am sure the Sikhs in Queensland will extend their gratitude to all three and their teams for their inexorable support to assist us get the Kirpan included in the Weapons Amendments Act 2011 as a recognised article of the Sikh faith.
A Kirpan is one of the five articles of the Sikh faith. The Kirpan is associated with the words ‘kirpa’ (blessings and benevolence) and ‘aan’ (honour and dignity). The Kirpan is a curved blade, kept in a sheath which is secured in a gatra (cloth sash). Crossing over one’s heart, this sash holds the Kirpan in place; figuratively, it regulates the wearing of theKirpan, securing it in qualities such as mercy, contentment, fidelity and purity.
Wearing a Kirpan requires us to be mindful of our Guru Ji’s teachings. TheKirpan upholds noble values and is a constant reminder of one’s duty to defend the weak and oppressed and exercise mercy and compassion. The Kirpan is categorically not to be used for aggression and the right to carry theKirpan by an Amritdhari Sikh carries with it the unflinching responsibility of never misusing it. The Kirpan is also used to bless food and to bless newborns with Amrit or 'holy water' – thus extending its association with benevolence and blessing.
------------------------------------------------------------------------Section 51 of the Weapons Amendment Act 2011 states:
“Amendment of s 51 (Possession of a knife in a public place or a school) . . (3A) Also, it is reasonable excuse for subsection (1), to the extent the subsection relates to a public place, to physically possess a knife for genuine religious purposes.
Example-
A Sikh may possess, in a public place, a knife known as a kirpan to comply with the person’s religious faith.
(3B) However, it is not a reasonable excuse to physically possess a knife in a school for genuine religious purposes.”
This is a great victory for the Sikhs in Queensland. Please share this information with your families and friends. We encourage other Australian States to pursue Sikh issues with their local Government members and where we can we will endeavour to assist them.
With our Beloved Guru Ji’s grace and guidance, in humbleness
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh
Sewadaar:
Kamaljit Kaur
Sikh Nishkam Society of Australia
Director
PO BOX 7113 LOGANHOLME QLD 4129