Knife Owners' Protection Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-1315
Sponsor: Sen. Enzi, Michael B. [R-WY]
Introduced: 2015-05-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Detention of persons
Federal preemption
State and local government operations
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-13
text: 

Knife Owners' Protection Act of 2015

 
 Allows any individual who is not otherwise prohibited by federal law from possessing, transporting, shipping, or receiving a knife to transport a knife from any state or place where such individual may lawfully possess, carry, or transport such a knife to any other state or place where such individual may lawfully do so: (1) by motor vehicle if the knife is not directly accessible from the passenger compartment or is in a closed container, glove compartment, or console; or (2) by other means over land or through water or the air if the knife is in a closed container. Excludes the transport of a knife with the intent to commit an offense punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year involving the use or threatened use of force against another person or with knowledge, or reasonable cause to believe, that such an offense is to be committed in the course of, or arising from, the journey.
 
Allows an individual to carry a knife or tool that is designed for enabling escape in an emergency and that incorporates a blunt tipped safety blade or a guarded blade or both for cutting safety belts in the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle without being secured in a closed container, glove compartment, or console, except in the passenger cabin of aircraft whose passengers are subject to airport screening procedures of the Transportation Security Administration.

action_date: 2015-08-28
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)
 

Knife Owners' Protection Act of 2015
 
 
(Sec. 2) This bill permits an individual to transport a knife between two states where knife possession, carry, or transport is legal. A knife must be securely stored during transport. 
 
Specifically, a knife transported by motor vehicle must be inaccessible from the vehicle's passenger compartment or secured in a closed container, glove compartment, or console in a vehicle with no separate passenger compartment. A knife transported by other means (e.g., air) must be secured in a closed container. 
 
An emergency knife designed to cut seat belts is exempt from the requirement to be securely stored during interstate transport. 
 
This bill prohibits the arrest or detention of an individual for a knife violation unless there is probable cause to believe the individual failed to securely store the knife during transport. An individual may assert compliance with this Act as a claim or defense in any civil or criminal action or proceeding. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-08-28
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 201.
action_date: 2015-08-28
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Thune under authority of the order of the Senate of 08/05/2015 without amendment. With written report No. 114-121.
action_date: 2015-08-28
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Thune under authority of the order of the Senate of 08/05/2015 without amendment. With written report No. 114-121.
action_date: 2015-05-20
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2015-05-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2015-05-13
text: Introduced in Senate