,,ii  #aacth ,,congress  #b;d ,session  
,s4 #aiee  ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of     
,,the ,,united ,,states  ,january #af1  
#bjad,mr4 ,enzi 7for himself and ,mr4   
,lee7 introduced the following bill2    
which was read twice and referred to the
 ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and 
,transportation  ,a ,,bill  ,to protect 
the right of law-abiding citizens to    
transport knives interstate1            
notwithstanding a patchwork of local and
 ,state prohibitions4  #a4 ,short title 
,this ,act may be cited as the ,knife   
,owners' ,protection ,act of #bjad4  #b4
 ,interstate transport of knives  7a7   
,definition ,in this section1 the term  
transport-- 7#a7 includes staying in    
temporary lodging overnight1 common     
carrier misrouting or delays1 stops for 
food1 fuel1 vehicle maintenance1        
emergencies1 medical treatment1 and any 
other activity related to the journey of
 an individual2 and  7#b7 does not      
include transport of a knife with the   
intent to commit an offense punishable  

by imprisonment for a term exceeding #a 
year involving the use or threatened use
 of force against another person1 or    
with knowledge1 or reasonable cause to  
believe1 that such an offense is to be  
committed in the course of1 or arising  
from1 the journey4  7b7 ,transport of   
knives  7#a7 ,in general                
,notwithstanding any other provision of 
law1 rule1 or regulation of the ,united 
,states1 or of a ,state or political    
subdivision of a ,state1 an individual  
who is not otherwise prohibited by      
,federal law from possessing1           
transporting1 shipping1 or receiving a  
knife may transport a knife from any    
,state or place where the individual may
 lawfully possess1 carry1 or transport  
the knife to any other ,state or place  
where the individual may lawfully       
possess1 carry1 or transport the knife  
if-- 7,a7 in the case of transport by   
motor vehicle1 the knife is not directly
 accessible from the passenger          
compartment of the motor vehicle1 or1 in

 the case of a motor vehicle without a  
compartment separate from the passenger 
compartment1 the knife is contained in a
 locked container1 glove compartment1 or
 console2 or  7,b7 in the case of       
transport by means other than a motor   
vehicle1 including any transport over   
land1 on or through water1 or through   
the air1 the knife is contained in a    
locked container4  7#b7 ,temporary      
lodging ,an individual transporting a   
knife in accordance with paragraph 7#a7 
may have a knife accessible while       
staying in any form of temporary        
lodging4  7c7 ,emergency knives  7#a7   
,in general ,an individual-- 7,a7 may   
carry in the passenger compartment of a 
motor vehicle a knife or tool designed  
for enabling escape in an emergency that
 incorporates a blunt tipped safety     
blade or a guarded blade or both for    
cutting safety belts2 and  7,b7 shall   
not be required to secure a knife or    
tool described in subparagraph 7,a7 in a
 locked container1 glove compartment1 or

 console4  7#b7 ,limitation ,this       
subsection shall not apply to the       
transport of a knife or tool in the     
passenger cabin of an aircraft whose    
passengers are subject to airport       
screening procedures of the             
,transportation ,security               
,administration4  7d7 ,no arrest or     
detention ,an individual who is         
transporting a knife in compliance with 
this section may not be arrested or     
otherwise detained for violation of any 
law1 rule1 or regulation of a ,state or 
political subdivision of a ,state       
related to the possession1 transport1 or
 carrying of a knife1 unless there is   
probable cause to believe that the      
individual is not in compliance with    
subsection 7b74  7e7 ,claim or defense  
,an individual may assert this section  
as a claim or defense in any civil or   
criminal action or proceeding4 ,when an 
individual asserts this section as a    
claim or defense in a criminal          
proceeding1 the ,state or political     

subdivision has the burden of proving1  
beyond a reasonable doubt1 that the     
individual was not in compliance with   
subsection 7b74  7f7 ,right of action   
7#a7 ,in general ,any individual who1   
under color of any statute1 ordinance1  
regulation1 custom1 or usage1 of any    
,state or political subdivision of a    
,state1 subjects1 or causes to be       
subjected1 any individual to the        
deprivation of the rights1 privileges1  
or immunities provided for in this      
section1 shall be liable to the         
individual so deprived in an action at  
law or equity1 or other proper          
proceeding for redress4  7#b7           
,attorney's ,fees  7,a7 ,in general ,if 
an individual asserts this section as a 
claim or defense1 the court shall award 
to the prevailing party1 as described in
 subparagraph 7,b71 reasonable          
attorney's fees4  7,b7 ,prevailing party
 ,a prevailing party described in this  
subparagraph-- 7i7 includes a party who 
receives a favorable resolution through 

a decision by a court1 settlement of a  
claim1 withdrawal of criminal charges1  
or change of a statute or regulation2   
and  7ii7 does not include a ,state or  
political subdivision of a ,state1 or an
 employee or representative of a ,state 
or political subdivision of a ,state4   
7g7 ,rule of construction ,nothing in   
this section shall be construed to limit
 any right to possess1 carry1 or        
transport a knife under applicable      
,state law4