There is a bill, sponsored by California Assemblymember Warren Furutani, that would make it easier for Sikhs to practice their religion in California. Assembly Bill 504, which is making its way to Governor Schwarzeneggar's desk, would require law enforcement agencies in the state to offer training to their officers about the importance of carrying the kirpan, small blades faithful that members of the religion carry to remind them of their religious duty to defend the weak and oppressed.

"I'm hoping this will educate people that this is a religious practice and not a threat," said Assemblyman Warren Furutani, D-Long Beach, the measure's sponsor.

Sikhs are mandated by their religion to keep five articles of faith on their person at all times. The kirpan is carried in a shoulder strap known as a gatra, as mandated by the Sikh Code of Conduct. "It helps sustain one's martial spirit and the determination to sacrifice oneself in order to defend truth, oppression and Sikh moral values," the Sikh Coalition's Web site says.

The kirpan is also an allusion to spiritual knowledge that cuts through ignorance and sin, according to the code of conduct

Training law enforcement officers works, said J.P. Singh, an electrical engineer from El Sobrante. Singh, a consultant with the U.S. Department of Justice's Community Relations Service, has trained officers around the Bay Area.

"I know that 80 to 90 percent of police officers don't even know who Sikhs are," he said. "When trained, they will know who they're dealing with, and they'll know what the articles of faith are, and they'll probably leave them alone."

Sikhs, who number about 100,000 in the Bay Area and about 700,000 nationwide, have been fighting airport security checks in which they are directed into holding cells for inspection of their turbans.

"It's humiliating," Singh said. "I feel humiliated every time I go to the airport. You get singled out."

It is the same sense of humiliation when Sikhs are stopped for wearing kirpans. "You usually don't let others touch your articles of faith," Singh said.

The training would be added to existing police diversity and cultural sensitivity training.

Many Sikhs felt a backlash post 9/11 because of the turbans that they wear. This will hopefully increase the level of sensitivity and understanding of the community.