Bearded man can't be prison guard, Calif. says

[Freddie Stubbs]

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California's attorney general says religious beliefs aren't enough to trump a corrections department ban on prison guards wearing beards — a stance that drew protests Tuesday from civil rights organizations.

Attorney General Kamala Harris argued in a Sacramento County Superior Court filing on Jan. 6 that Trilochan Oberoi can't be properly fitted for a gas mask if he keeps the facial hair required by his Sikh religion.

Harris said no exceptions have been granted since the policy took effect in 2004. She is asking that Oberoi's lawsuit be dismissed at an April 19 hearing.

Civil rights organizations sent a letter to Harris on Tuesday asking her to reconsider her opposition and met with her top aide to discuss their concerns.

more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41263508/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/

[petronius]

1. What do they do in India? There must be plenty of bearded policemen there

I'm sure some Indian law enforcement agency or military branch has considered the beard/gas mask conundrum. :shrug:

And it really seems like, if they can fit masks over 1" beards, and if people who had beards before the policy are doing fine, there's no reason not to accommodate this guard...

[CRK7376]

2. There are Sikh

Soldiers in the USArmy and they wear gas masks sometimes in training....

[robt6750]

3. this