SLC Times

Senator Mike Lee from Utah has reintroduced the Knife Owners Protection Act (KOPA), a legislative proposal aimed at safeguarding traveling knife owners from varying state and local regulations. This act is designed to protect individuals carrying knives legally at both the start and end of their journey, as long as the knives are secured according to KOPA's stipulations. Co-sponsors of this legislation include Senators Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana.

The initiative was first presented in 2013 and marks the initial federal effort to proactively support knife owners' rights. It draws parallels with the Firearm Owner Protection Act (FOPA) passed in 1986, which provided similar protections for gun owners against inconsistent local laws. Currently, no equivalent federal safeguards exist for those who carry knives.

"Patchwork and unclear knife laws across America endanger the rights of law-abiding knife owners, especially when traveling," stated Senator Lee. "This legislation will provide consistency and clarity for Americans who safely transport knives between jurisdictions and prevent capricious prosecutions against them."

Doug Ritter, Chairman of Knife Rights, highlighted the challenges faced by travelers carrying knives: “Those who travel across the country with knives for work, recreation, and self-defense are presently subject to arrest and prosecution under a confusing patchwork of inconsistent state and local laws.” He noted that what is legal in one location could be considered a crime elsewhere, leading to penalties such as forfeiture or jail time. Enforcement practices can vary widely even within a single jurisdiction.