[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 171 (Thursday, November 19, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8167-S8168]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 2855. Mr. ENZI (for himself and Mr. Wyden) submitted an amendment 
intended to be proposed to amendment SA 2812 proposed by Ms. Collins 
(for herself and Mr. Reed) to the bill H.R.

[[Page S8168]]

2577, making appropriations for the Departments of Transportation, and 
Housing and Urban Development, and related agencies for the fiscal year 
ending September 30, 2016, and for other purposes; which was ordered to 
lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end of title IV, add the following:

     SEC. 416. INTERSTATE TRANSPORT OF KNIVES.

       (a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``Knife 
     Owners' Protection Act of 2015''.
       (b) Definition.--In this section, the term ``transport''--
       (1) includes staying in temporary lodging overnight, common 
     carrier misrouting or delays, stops for food, fuel, vehicle 
     maintenance, emergencies, medical treatment, and any other 
     activity related to the journey of an individual; and
       (2) does not include transport of a knife with the intent 
     to commit an offense punishable by imprisonment for a term 
     exceeding 1 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.
       (c) Transport of Knives.--Notwithstanding any other 
     provision of law, rule, or regulation of the United States, 
     or of a State or political subdivision of a State, an 
     individual who is not otherwise prohibited by Federal law 
     from possessing, transporting, shipping, or receiving a knife 
     may transport a knife from any State or place where the 
     individual may lawfully possess, carry, or transport the 
     knife to any other State or place where the individual may 
     lawfully possess, carry, or transport the knife if--
       (1) in the case of transport by motor vehicle--
       (A) the knife is not directly accessible from the passenger 
     compartment of the motor vehicle; or
       (B) in the case of a motor vehicle without a compartment 
     separate from the passenger compartment, the knife is 
     contained in a closed--
       (i) container;
       (ii) glove compartment; or
       (iii) console; or
       (2) in the case of transport by means other than a motor 
     vehicle, including any transport over land, on or through 
     water, or through the air, the knife is contained in a closed 
     container.
       (d) Emergency Knives.--
       (1) In general.--An individual--
       (A) 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 belts; and
       (B) shall not be required to secure a knife or tool 
     described in subparagraph (A) in a closed--
       (i) container;
       (ii) glove compartment; or
       (iii) console.
       (2) 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 Administration.
       (e) 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 law, 
     rule, or regulation of a State or political subdivision of a 
     State related to the possession, transport, or carrying of a 
     knife, unless there is probable cause to believe that the 
     individual is not in compliance with subsection (c).
       (f) Claim or Defense.--An individual may assert this 
     section as a claim or defense in any civil or criminal action 
     or proceeding. When an individual asserts this section as a 
     claim or defense in a criminal proceeding, the State or 
     political subdivision shall have the burden of proving, 
     beyond a reasonable doubt, that the individual was not in 
     compliance with subsection (c).
       (g) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
     construed to limit any right to possess, carry, or transport 
     a knife under applicable State law.
                                 ______