Knife Owners' Protection Act

Summary#

This bill, called the Knife Owners' Protection Act of 2025, says that people who are legally allowed to possess knives may carry them while traveling between states if they follow certain storage rules. It says federal, State, and local rules cannot stop that interstate travel when the knife is transported as described in the bill. The bill defines "transport" to include stops for food, fuel, lodging, delays, and other travel-related activity. It excludes trips in which a person intends to use a knife to commit a serious crime.

The bill requires different storage rules depending on how someone is traveling: in motor vehicles, knives must not be directly accessible from the passenger area or must be in a locked container or locked compartments; when flying, knives must be in a locked container and not in the passenger cabin; and for other travel, knives must be in a locked container. The bill allows certain blunt-tipped or guarded emergency cutting tools to be kept in the passenger area of a motor vehicle but not in the passenger cabin of aircraft subject to TSA screening. It also says knives may be kept accessible in temporary overnight lodging if other storage rules are met.

The bill bars arrest or detention of someone transporting a knife in compliance with these rules, unless there is probable cause the person broke the storage requirements. A person can use the bill as a claim or defense in court. If the bill is used as a defense in a criminal case, the State must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the person did not follow the storage rules. The bill also allows people to sue officials who deprive them of the rights set out here and requires courts to award reasonable attorney's fees to a prevailing party other than a State or its subdivisions or employees. Finally, the bill says it does not limit any State right to possess or carry knives or add extra limits on air travel with knives.

What it means for you#

• If you are not otherwise barred by federal law from having a knife, this bill would let you move a knife across state lines so long as you store it the way the bill describes for your mode of travel.
• In a car, keep knives out of reach of the passenger area or locked in a container, glove box, or console. In air travel, keep knives locked and out of the passenger cabin. For other travel, keep knives in a locked container.
• Emergency cutting tools with blunt or guarded blades may be kept in a vehicle passenger area, but not in an airplane cabin subject to TSA screening.
• If you follow the bill's rules, a State or local officer may not arrest or detain you for the knife rules unless there is probable cause you broke the storage requirements.
• You may assert this bill as a legal defense in court. If you win, you can seek reasonable attorney's fees (except when the prevailing party is a State or its subdivisions or employees).

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

The bill describes its purpose as protecting the right of law-abiding citizens to transport knives interstate despite a patchwork of State and local prohibitions that the bill says burden citizens. That statement in the bill text reflects the bill sponsors' stated aim to ensure people can move knives across state lines when they follow the bill's storage and transport rules.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.