Weapons Policy

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to ensure the safety and protection of all students, employees, patients, contractors, and visitors to Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health campuses.

Definitions

Firearms, imitation firearms, explosives, knives, brass knuckles, devices capable of discharging a projectile, illegal weapons as defined by law and any other item that can be used as an offensive weapon are prohibited. Any questions about whether an item is covered by this policy should be directed to the Security Department for clarification. All persons will be held directly responsible for making sure beforehand that any potentially covered item possessed is not prohibited by this policy.

Jefferson property covered by this policy includes, without limitation, all Jefferson owned or leased buildings and surrounding areas such as sidewalks, walkways, driveways, plazas, and parking lots and garages under Jefferson’s ownership or control. Jefferson vehicles are also covered by this policy at all times regardless of whether they are on Jefferson property at any time. This policy also prohibits weapons at any Jefferson sponsored function, such as parties or picnics.

Policy 

Jefferson prohibits all persons who enter any Jefferson property from carrying a handgun, firearm, or prohibited weapon of any kind onto any Jefferson property regardless of whether the person is licensed to carry the weapon.

This policy applies to all Jefferson students, employees, contractors, patients, contractors and visitors on Jefferson property, and customers and contractors on Jefferson property, regardless of whether they are licensed to carry a concealed weapon. The only exceptions to this policy will be on duty law enforcement personnel, uniformed law enforcement officers, or other persons who have been given written consent by Jefferson’s Security Directors to carry a weapon on the property. Security Directors or their designees may provide a temporary exception.

All Jefferson employees are also prohibited from carrying any weapon while in the course and scope of performing their job for Jefferson, whether or not they are on company property, and whether they are licensed to carry a firearm. Employees may not carry any weapon covered by this policy while performing any task on Jefferson’s behalf. Violators of this policy are subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination/expulsion.