Congress Targets State-by-State Knife Laws by Protecting Locked-Up Knife Transport Across State Lines

The bill’s definition of “State” explicitly includes the District of Columbia, so DC’s local knife restrictions could not be used to arrest a compliant traveler who is just transporting a knife through DC with it locked up and not accessible. DC agencies and courts could face added work and possible attorney-fee payouts in cases where travelers win and seek fees/expungement.

Puerto Rico is explicitly included, so the same interstate transport protections would apply when traveling to/from Puerto Rico where the trip involves transport “over land or on or through water” with the knife in a locked container (and not in airplane cabins under TSA rules). Local enforcement could see fewer arrests of compliant travelers and possible attorney-fee/expungement obligations when travelers win in court.

Guam is explicitly included. Travelers moving knives between places where possession is legal would get the federal transport protection if the knife is locked up as required (and not carried into airplane cabins under TSA rules). Guam agencies may need to adjust enforcement and could face fee awards/expungement orders when a traveler wins a case.

American Samoa is explicitly included. The bill would limit local arrests of compliant travelers transporting knives in locked containers during qualifying travel, while keeping TSA airplane-cabin rules unchanged. Local courts could see motions for attorney’s fees and expungement if a traveler wins under the new protections.

The Northern Mariana Islands are explicitly included. Compliant travelers would gain a federal shield against local knife-transport arrests during qualifying travel, with specific storage rules and an exception for airplane cabins under TSA rules. Local agencies and courts could have added compliance determinations and possible fee/expungement obligations when travelers prevail.

The U.S. Virgin Islands are explicitly included. Travelers would be protected from local knife-transport arrests if they follow the locked-container rules during qualifying travel (but TSA cabin rules still apply on flights). If a traveler wins in court using the protection, courts must order expungement and award costs and reasonable attorney’s fees.