The "Knife Owners’ Protection Act of 2025" protects the rights of individuals to transport knives between states where possession is legal, provided the knives are transported in a locked container and not directly accessible. It also allows legal recourse for individuals whose rights are violated under this act.
Andy Biggs
Representative
AZ-5
The Knife Owners’ Protection Act of 2025 ensures that individuals can transport knives between locations where possession is legal, provided the knives are transported in a locked container and are not directly accessible. It protects individuals complying with these rules from arrest or detention under state or local knife laws, and allows legal action against entities that infringe upon these rights. This act does not limit existing state laws regarding knife possession, carry, or transport, nor does it add restrictions to air travel with knives.
Knife Owners' Protection Act of 2025: New Rules for Interstate Knife Transport
The Knife Owners' Protection Act of 2025 sets up federal guidelines for transporting knives across state lines. Basically, if you legally own a knife, this bill aims to make sure you can travel with it between states without getting hassled, provided you follow some specific rules.
Road-Tripping with Blades
This section lays out the core of the bill: how you can legally move your knives from state to state. The big takeaway? If it's legal to own the knife in both the starting point and the destination, you're generally good to go, but you have to secure it properly. Think of it like transporting a firearm, but for knives. For example, if you're driving, the knife needs to be inaccessible from the passenger area – ideally in a locked container (SEC. 2). If there is no separate compartment like a trunk, any locked container will work. If you are flying, it is the same deal: locked container that will not be in the passenger cabin. No matter how the knife is transported, it must be in a locked container.
Emergency Exceptions and Overnight Stays
The bill makes an exception for knives designed for emergencies. These can be kept in the passenger area of a vehicle, as long as they have safety features (SEC. 2). So, your rescue tool with a seatbelt cutter is probably fine, but a hunting knife isn't. Also, the bill clarifies that "transport" includes overnight stays and necessary stops (SEC. 2), so you don't have to worry about keeping your knife locked up in your hotel room, provided you meet the transportation requirements.
Legal Backup
This is where the bill gets interesting. If you're following these rules and a state or local government tries to charge you with a knife violation, you can use this federal law as a defense (SEC. 2). Even better, you can sue them for violating your rights, and if you win, they have to pay your attorney's fees (SEC. 2). This puts some teeth in the law, making it harder for states to ignore the federal guidelines.
Real World Implications
Imagine a construction worker who uses specialized knives for their job. If they're driving from a state where those knives are legal to another state with similar laws, they can now do so without fear of arrest, as long as they pack the knives correctly. Or consider a collector driving to a knife show across state lines – they're protected, too, provided they follow the rules. However, it is important to remember if you are transporting a knife with the intent to commit a crime, these protections do not apply (SEC. 2).
Potential Challenges
While the bill aims to simplify things, there could be bumps in the road. Defining "locked container" might lead to some legal wrangling. Also, the bill could create tension with states that have stricter knife laws. It's not overriding those laws, but it's creating a parallel federal standard that could get messy. It is important to note that existing rights to possess, carry, or transport knives under state law are not limited, nor does the bill add restrictions to air travel with knives (SEC. 2).