II 

Calendar No. 161 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 542 

[Report No. 116–65] 

To protect the right of law-abiding citizens to transport knives interstate, 

notwithstanding a patchwork of local and State prohibitions. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

FEBRUARY 25, 2019 

Mr. ENZI (for himself, Mr. WYDEN, Mr. RISCH, Mr. HEINRICH, Mr. CRAPO, 

Mr. MERKLEY, and Mr. MANCHIN) introduced the following bill; which 

was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

Transportation 

JULY 24, 2019 

Reported by Mr. WICKER, without amendment 

A BILL 

To protect the right of law-abiding citizens to transport 

knives interstate, notwithstanding a patchwork of local 

and State prohibitions. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Interstate Transport 

5 Act of 2019’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. INTERSTATE TRANSPORTATION OF KNIVES. 

2 (a) DEFINITION.—In this Act, the term ‘‘trans3 port’’— 

4 (1) includes staying in temporary lodging over5 night, common carrier misrouting or delays, stops 

6 for food, fuel, vehicle maintenance, emergencies, or 

7 medical treatment, and any other activity related to 

8 the journey of a person; and 

9 (2) does not include transport of a knife with 

10 the intent to commit an offense punishable by im11 prisonment for a term exceeding 1 year involving the 

12 use or threatened use of force against another per13 son, or with knowledge, or reasonable cause to be14 lieve, that such an offense is to be committed in the 

15 course of, or arising from, the journey. 

16 (b) TRANSPORT OF KNIVES.— 

17 (1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other 

18 provision of any law or any rule or regulation of a 

19 State or any political subdivision thereof, a person 

20 who is not otherwise prohibited by any Federal law 

21 from possessing, transporting, shipping, or receiving 

22 a knife shall be entitled to transport a knife for any 

23 lawful purpose from any place where the person may 

24 lawfully possess, carry, or transport the knife to any 

25 other place where the person may lawfully possess, 

26 carry, or transport the knife if— 


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1 (A) in the case of transport by motor vehi2 cle, the knife— 

3 (i) is not directly accessible from the 

4 passenger compartment of the motor vehi5 cle; or 

6 (ii) in the case of a motor vehicle 

7 without a compartment separate from the 

8 passenger compartment, is contained in a 

9 locked container other than the glove com10 partment or console; and 

11 (B) in the case of transport by means 

12 other than a motor vehicle, including any trans13 port over land or on or through water, the knife 

14 is contained in a locked container. 

15 (2) LIMITATION.—This subsection shall not 

16 apply to the transport of a knife or tool in the cabin 

17 of a passenger aircraft subject to the rules and regu18 lations of the Transportation Security Administra19 tion. 

20 (c) EMERGENCY KNIVES.— 

21 (1) IN GENERAL.—A person— 

22 (A) may carry in the passenger compart23 ment of a mode of transportation a knife or 

24 tool— 


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1 (i) the blades of which consist only of 

2 a blunt tipped safety blade, a guarded 

3 blade, or both; and 

4 (ii) that is specifically designed for en5 abling escape in an emergency by cutting 

6 safety belts; and 

7 (B) shall not be required to secure a knife 

8 or tool described in subparagraph (A) in a 

9 locked container. 

10 (2) LIMITATION.—This subsection shall not 

11 apply to the transport of a knife or tool in the cabin 

12 of a passenger aircraft subject to the rules and regu13 lations of the Transportation Security Administra14 tion. 

15 (d) NO ARREST.—A person who is transporting a 

16 knife in compliance with this section may not be arrested 

17 for violation of any law, rule, or regulation of a State or 

18 political subdivision of a State related to the possession, 

19 transport, or carrying of a knife, unless there is probable 

20 cause to believe that the person is not in compliance with 

21 subsection (b). 

22 (e) COSTS.—If a person who asserts this section as 

23 a claim or defense in a civil or criminal action or pro24 ceeding is a prevailing party on the claim or defense, the 


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1 court shall award costs and reasonable attorney’s fees in2 curred by the person. 

3 (f) EXPUNGEMENT.—If a person who asserts this 

4 section as a claim or defense in a criminal proceeding is 

5 a prevailing party on the claim or defense, the court shall 

6 enter an order that directs that there be expunged from 

7 all official records all references to— 

8 (1) the arrest of the person for the offense as 

9 to which the claim or defense was asserted; 

10 (2) the institution of any criminal proceedings 

11 against the person relating to such offense; and 

12 (3) the results of the proceedings, if any. 

13 (g) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec14 tion shall be construed to limit any right to possess, carry, 

15 or transport a knife under applicable State law. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
Calendar No. 161 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 542 

[Report No. 116–65] 

A BILL 

To protect the right of law-abiding citizens to 

patchwork of local and State prohibitions. transport knives interstate, notwithstanding a 

JULY 24, 2019 

Reported without amendment 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS