Firearms and Weapons Policy

All members of the college community, including faculty, staff, and students, as well as visitors to Dickinson College, are prohibited from possessing firearms, explosives or weapons (hereafter collectively referred to as “weapons”) on the premises of the college or in any building under college control or at any college– sponsored event without the explicit authorization of Dickinson College, whether or not a federal or state license to possess the same has been issued to the possessor.

The only exceptions to this policy are as follows:

1. Commissioned law enforcement officers to the extent they are legally permitted to possess weapons in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Carlisle Borough;
2. Persons in the military in performance of their official duties to the extent they are legally permitted to possess weapons in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Carlisle Borough; and
3. Faculty or staff legally permitted to possess weapons in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Carlisle Borough, may do so on college property only to the extent that such possession is necessary as part of an academic or research activity. Such use must have received prior written approval by the Chief, Department of Public Safety.
4. College sanctioned groups or events where a particular weapon(s) is a required part of the curriculum or activity, i.e. martial arts classes/clubs; fencing classes/clubs; theatrical events, etc. Such use must have received prior written approval by the Chief, Department of Public Safety.

Anyone possessing a weapon other than those in the exception categories will be asked to remove them from the campus or event immediately. They may also be subject to arrest and/or disciplinary action as discussed below. Exceptions to this policy may be requested in writing to the Chief, Department of Public Safety. The Chief will review the request with the Vice President for Campus Operations and General Counsel. Only under the most unusual circumstance would an exception be granted. Questions about the applicability of this policy to specific items may also be directed to the Chief, Department of Public Safety.

Any student, faculty or staff member violating this policy shall be subject to the disciplinary policies and procedures applicable to students, faculty or staff. Additionally, possession of unlicensed firearms or weapons may lead to criminal prosecution by the appropriate jurisdiction.

Definitions 

Firearm - Any device that shoots a bullet, pellet, flare, tranquilizer, spear dart, paintball or other projectile, whether loaded or unloaded, including those powered by CO2. This includes, but is not limited to, guns, air guns, dart guns, pistols, revolvers, rifles, cannons, etc., and any ammunition for any such device.

Weapon - Any device that is designed to or traditionally used to inflict harm. This includes, but is not limited to: (1) firearms, slingshots, switchblades, daggers, blackjacks, brass knuckles, bows and arrows, hand grenades, hunting knives, nun-chucks, throwing stars, etc.; (2) any object that could be reasonably construed as a weapon; or (3) any object legally controlled as a weapon or treated as a weapon under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Explosives - Any chemical compound or mechanical mixture that contains any oxidizing and combustible units, or other ingredients, in such proportion, quantities or packing that an ignition by fire, friction, concussion, percussion, or detonator, or any part of the compound or mixture, gaseous pressures capable of producing destructive efforts on contiguous objects or of destroying life or limb. This includes, but is not limited to, firecrackers, black powder, dynamite, etc. as well as detonating devices such as detonators, blasting caps, timers, incendiary wire and the like.