I 
113TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3478 
To protect the right of law-abiding citizens to transport knives interstate, 
notwithstanding a patchwork of local and State prohibitions. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 13, 2013 
Mr. SALMON (for himself, Mr. FRANKS of Arizona, Mr. GOSAR, Mr. MASSIE, 
Mr. DESJARLAIS, Mr. SCHWEIKERT, Mr. BENTIVOLIO, and Mr. STOCK-
MAN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To protect the right of law-abiding citizens to transport 
knives interstate, notwithstanding a patchwork of local 
and State prohibitions. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Knife Owners’ Protec-
tion Act of 2013’’. 
SEC. 2. INTERSTATE TRANSPORTATION OF KNIVES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any provision of 
any law or any rule or regulation of the United States, 
or of a State or any political subdivision of a State, any 
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person who is not otherwise prohibited by Federal law 
from possessing, transporting, shipping, or receiving a 
knife or knives shall be entitled to transport a knife or 
knives from any place where such person may lawfully pos-
sess, carry or transport such a knife or knives to any other 
place where such person may lawfully possess, carry or 
transport such a knife or knives if— 
(1) in the case of transportation by motor vehi-
cle, the knife or knives are not directly accessible 
from the passenger compartment of such trans-
porting vehicle, or, in the case of a motor vehicle 
without a compartment separate from the passenger 
compartment, the knife or knives shall be contained 
in a locked container, glove compartment, or console; 
or 
(2) in the case of transportation by other 
means (including any conveyance over land, on or 
through water, or through the air), the knife or 
knives are contained in a locked container. 
(b) EMERGENCY KNIVES.—Any knife or tool de-
signed for enabling escape in an emergency incorporating 
a blunt tipped safety blade, a guarded blade, or both, for 
cutting safety belts may be carried in the passenger com-
partment and need not be secured in a locked container, 
glove compartment, or console. This subsection shall not 
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apply to the transport of any such knife or tool in the 
passenger cabin of aircraft whose passengers are subject 
to airport screening procedures of the Transportation Se-
curity Administration. 
(c) NO ARREST OR DETENTION.—A person who is 
transporting a knife or knives in compliance with this sec-
tion may not be arrested or otherwise detained for viola-
tion of any law or any rule or regulation of a State or 
any political subdivision of a State related to the posses-
sion, transportation, or carrying of knives, unless there is 
probable cause to believe that the person is not in compli-
ance with at least one of the requirements of subsection 
(a). 
(d) CLAIM OR DEFENSE.—A person may assert this 
section as a claim or defense in any action or proceeding, 
civil or criminal. When a person asserts this section as 
a claim or defense in a criminal proceeding, the State or 
political subdivision shall bear the burden of proving, be-
yond a reasonable doubt, that the person was not in com-
pliance with subsection (a). 
(e) RIGHT OF ACTION.—Any person who, under color 
of any statute, ordinance, regulation, custom, or usage, 
of any State or political subdivision of a State, subjects, 
or causes to be subjected, any person to the deprivation 
of the rights, privileges, or immunities set forth in this 
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section, shall be liable to the person so deprived in an ac-
tion at law, suit in equity, or other proper proceeding for 
redress. When a person asserts this section as a claim or 
defense, the court shall award the prevailing party (includ-
ing any party who receives a favorable resolution through 
a decision by a court, settlement of a claim, withdrawal 
of criminal charges, or change of a statute or regulation), 
other than a State or any political subdivision of a State 
or its employees or representatives, a reasonable attorneys’ 
fee. 
(f) DEFINITION.—As used in this section, the term 
‘‘transport’’ includes staying in temporary lodging over-
night, common carrier misrouting or delays, stops for 
food, fuel, vehicle maintenance, emergencies, medical 
treatment, and all other activity related to the person’s 
overall journey. The term shall not include any transpor-
tation of a knife or knives with the intent to commit any 
offense punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding 
one year involving the use or threatened use of force 
against another, or with knowledge, or reasonable cause 
to believe, that such an offense is to be committed in the 
course of, or arising from, such journey. Within any form 
of temporary lodging, a knife or knives may be accessible. 
(g) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion shall be construed in any way to limit any right to 
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