October 3, 2022
University of North Carolina-Charlotte had a dangerous incident last week. A male student was discovered sitting in the Student Union Bldg. wearing a turban and carrying a large knife called a “kirpan.” People near the student called 911.
Campus police showed up and asked the student to show the officer the knife. The student refused and a brief struggle ensued which of course was videoed and placed on the Internet. Apparently, the student was of the Sikh religion and the weapon was part of his religious garment.
And of course, the community cried foul. The campus police were accused of violating the student’s religious freedom. Hmmmm! I have family that attended UNC-C. I would have wanted that student to be questioned and perhaps had the kirpan examined. Why did the student not surrender the knife??? Let the police do their job and later resolve the situation.
In 2015, at Virginia Tech a female international student was decapitated by another international student with a knife while sitting at a campus cafe.
A large knife is a dangerous weapon!!! Period. I am glad the police approached the man. In 2020, the FBI reported 1,750 murders involving knives.
It was completely justified for the campus police to confront the man. Students were afraid and called 911. Was he a student? Was he dangerous? Why was he carrying a knife? Etc. Etc.
It is not ok for students to carry knives or other weapons on campus. Students caught with weapons must be stopped by the police. If the university makes an exception for the Sikhs, then so be it, but the campus police have the duty to question the practice. Student safety is the responsibility of the police. If that student was overlooked and later killed a student, the campus police would have been vilified
I support the actions taken by the UNC-Charlotte police.
High Truths and Low Lies 