Knife Owners’ Protection Act of 2025

This proposal, called the Knife Owners’ Protection Act of 2025, would let law‑abiding people transport knives between places where it’s legal to have them, even when traveling through states or cities with stricter rules. The knife must be stored so it isn’t easy to reach: in cars, keep it out of the passenger area or locked in a container, glove box, or console; by air, it must be in a locked container and not in the cabin; by other travel (land or water), it must be in a locked container.

Seat‑belt‑cutter emergency tools can be kept in the passenger area of a car and don’t have to be locked, but they still can’t be in an airplane cabin. You may also keep a knife accessible overnight in temporary lodging if you follow the travel rules. If you follow these rules, you can’t be arrested or detained for violating state or local knife laws; you can use this law as a defense, and the government must prove you didn’t comply. You can also sue if your rights under this are violated, and courts must award attorney’s fees to the winning party (not the government) . This bill does not take away any existing state rights to possess or carry knives and does not add extra restrictions on air travel with knives.

• Who is affected: People who aren’t barred by federal law from having a knife and are traveling between places where it’s legal to have one.
• How to carry it: Keep it locked and out of reach in cars; locked and checked (not in the cabin) when flying; locked for other travel.
• Special cases: Emergency seat‑belt cutters can be in the car’s passenger area; knives can be accessible overnight in temporary lodging; no emergency tools in airplane cabins.
• Protections: No arrest/detention if you’re following the rules; you can use this as a legal defense; the government must prove non‑compliance; you may sue for violations and recover attorney’s fees if you win .