SE Valley Times

Congressman Andy Biggs of Arizona and Senator Mike Lee of Utah have reintroduced the Knife Owners Protection Act (KOPA). This legislation aims to safeguard knife owners traveling across state lines from varying local laws. The act ensures that if a knife is legally owned in both the starting and ending states of a journey, and secured as per KOPA's guidelines, owners will not face arrest for interstate travel.

KOPA was first introduced in 2013 as a pioneering federal pro-knife legislation. It follows the precedent set by the Firearm Owner Protection Act (FOPA) of 1986, which protects gun owners from inconsistent local regulations. Currently, no similar protections exist for knife owners.

"The government must not discourage interstate travel and commerce by subjecting law-abiding knife owners to the fear of prosecution under the myriad patchwork of state and local knife laws," stated Congressman Biggs. He emphasized the importance of protecting Second Amendment rights with support from Senator Lee.

Doug Ritter, Chairman of Knife Rights, highlighted the challenges faced by those traveling with knives due to inconsistent laws. "What is perfectly legal in one place may be a serious crime in another," he noted, pointing out potential penalties including jail time.

The bill has additional support from Representatives Jeff Duncan of South Carolina and Andy Ogles of Tennessee.

Blaze Media has provided coverage on this legislation. Further details on the bill are available online.