Jinn

Notwithstanding the obvious xenophobia actually going on in France, I support the banning of any attire that completely obscures the face of an individual who is using public transportation, assembling in public (even peaceably), using a public thoroughfare or attempting to make a purchase.

On a personal note I loathe Islam and religion in general, but I do believe I am fairly separating that from my feelings here. I am just as uncomfortable by a man in a ski mask entering a 7-11 as I am by a woman in a Niqab or Burqa walking down the street.

I fully support the exercise of religion in the US, and the freedom of (and from) it. But I think that restricting specific headgear is a reasonable restriction of freedom of expression for the security of a State; much like shouting "fire", making menacing gestures, verbally threatening harm or directly assembling with the purpose of inciting violence.

Framed in a different light, there are a great many religious "requirements" which we do not accept as reasonable under the protection of (and from) religion, like FGM. In this sense, we have a state that highly values internal and external security, a compelling national interest in protecting ourselves from terrorist attack and an incredible interest in protecting infrastructure and life. Why should we except religious head coverings when a man walking into a 7-11 wearing a black ski mask wouldn't similarly be allowable?

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"I'm typing on a computer of science, which is being sent by science wires to a little science server where you can access it. I'm not typing on a computer of philosophy or religion or whatever other thing you think can be used to understand the universe because they're a poor substitute in the role of understanding the universe which exists independent from ourselves." - Willravel