S. 346 — Knife Owners’ Protection Act of 2025

This section establishes a federal right for individuals not otherwise prohibited by federal law from possessing, transporting, shipping, or receiving knives to transport knives interstate from any place where they may lawfully possess, carry, or transport such knives to any other such place, notwithstanding contrary state or local laws or regulations. Transport includes temporary lodging overnight, common carrier delays or misrouting, stops for food, fuel, maintenance, emergencies, or medical treatment, but excludes transport with intent to commit—or knowledge or reasonable cause to believe—a felony involving force. The section specifies storage requirements during transport: (1) in a motor vehicle, knives must not be directly accessible from the passenger compartment or, if no separate compartment exists, must be in a locked container, glove compartment, or console; (2) by air, knives must be in a locked container outside the passenger cabin; and (3) by other means, knives must be in a locked container. Emergency knives or tools (i.e., those with blunt-tipped safety blades, guarded blades, or both, for cutting safety belts) may be carried accessible in a motor vehicle passenger compartment but not in an aircraft passenger cabin subject to TSA screening; knives may also remain accessible in temporary lodging. Individuals transporting knives in compliance with these requirements may not be arrested or detained for state or local knife laws absent probable cause of noncompliance. The section may be asserted as a claim or defense in civil or criminal proceedings, with states or localities bearing the burden of proving noncompliance beyond a reasonable doubt in criminal cases; it further creates a right of action against state or local officials for deprivation of these rights, including reasonable attorney's fees for prevailing individuals (excluding states, localities, or their representatives). Nothing in the section limits state knife rights or imposes additional air travel restrictions.