Denver Zoo is committed to providing an environment that is safe and secure for guests, employees, volunteers, contractors and vendors, and the animals in its care. Denver Zoo prohibits any person from using, possessing, carrying, displaying or distributing any weapon on, at or within the Denver Zoo campus (as defined in Section IV below), except as otherwise stated within this policy.
Any instrument or device that has been designed to, or can be used to, threaten or cause harm to another individual, either offensively or defensively, will be considered a weapon. The term weapon is further defined in Section IV below.
Persons in violation of Denver Zoo’s weapon policy shall be considered trespassers and will be dealt with accordingly by law enforcement, including but not limited to being removed and banned from the Denver Zoo campus.
The purpose of this policy is to clearly explain Denver Zoo’s commitment to maintaining a safe and secure environment. This policy is a proactive step towards reducing/eliminating the risks associated with intentional or accidental use of weapons.
This policy is in effect for the Denver Zoo campus, as defined in Section IV below. This policy applies to all persons who at any time are at, on or within the Denver Zoo campus, including guests, employees, volunteers, contractors and vendors. Without limitation of any other policies or contract terms which may be applicable, all such guests, employees, volunteers, contractors and vendors are required to adhere to the terms of this policy.
a. “Denver Zoo campus” shall mean the Denver Zoological Gardens located at 2300 Steele St, Denver, CO 80205. The Denver Zoo Campus includes all buildings, exhibits, structures, and outdoor premises at, on, or within the Denver Zoological Gardens, and also includes all parking facilities and structures for the Denver Zoological Gardens.
The Denver Zoo campus is managed and operated by Denver Zoological Foundation, Inc., a private Colorado non-profit corporation, pursuant to a cooperative agreement between Denver Zoological Foundation, Inc., and the City and County of Denver. The Denver Zoo campus is located within City Park, a designated park under the Denver City Charter, and which is administered and managed under the auspices of the Denver Department of Parks and Recreation and the Executive Director of the Denver Department of Parks and Recreation.
b. “Weapon” or “weapon” is defined to include:
i. Any instrument or device that shoots or delivers a bullet, BB, pellet, arrow, dart, flare, electrical charge, or other projectile (including but not limited to firearms), whether loaded or unloaded, including those devices powered by CO2, and any ammunition.
ii. Any explosive device including fireworks.
iii. Any other instrument or device that has been designed to, or can be used to, threaten or cause harm to another individual, either offensively or defensively, to include knives with a blade greater than 4 inches or chemicals.
c. “Firearm” or “firearm” is defined as a pistol, handgun, rifle or shotgun and any ammunition.
a. This policy does not prohibit the use, possession, carrying, displaying or distribution of firearms or other weapons by:
i. Certified Law Enforcement Officers (Federal, State, County, Municipal) acting within the scope of their employment.
ii. A member of the United States Armed Forces and on-duty.
iii. An individual licensed by the city of Denver as a security guard with a firearms endorsement and acting in performance of their duties.
iv. An individual transporting the weapon while travelling within a private automobile or other private means of conveyance for the purposes of hunting or the lawful protection of such person or their property, or another person or that person’s property. Except for pistols and revolvers, any firearm being transported must be unloaded during such transport.
b. The above exception applies only to guests. Except as provided in Section V(a) above, no employee, volunteer, vendor or contractor may carry, or use, possess, display, or distribute, a firearm or other weapon at, on, or within the Denver Zoo campus under any circumstances.
*This Section VI does not contain an exhaustive list of all applicable State and local laws applicable to use and possession of firearms and other weapons, and is not a substitute for review of applicable laws and, where appropriate, consultation with an attorney.
a. Related Denver Revised Municipal Code ("DRMC") Provisions:
i. DRMC §37-51 – Public Nuisances Prohibited (public nuisance is defined in DRMC §37-50(c))
ii. DRMC §38-117 – Offenses against Public Order and Safety / Weapons and Missiles / Dangerous or deadly weapons—Prohibitions.
iii. DRMC §38-130 – Denver Ordinance Banning Assault Weapons
iv. DRMC §38-131 – Denver Ordinance Prohibiting Firearms in City-Owned or Leased Buildings
v. DRMC §39-9 – Prohibitions on Firearms in Denver Parks
a. Persons at, on, or within Denver Zoo campus and in violation of this Denver Zoo weapon policy are trespassers and will be referred to, and dealt with by, appropriate law enforcement. In addition, Denver Zoological Foundation, Inc. may impose a temporary or permanent ban on future entry to the Denver Zoo campus, in the sole determination of Denver Zoological Foundation, Inc.
b. Violations of City and County of Denver and State of Colorado laws will be referred to, and dealt with by, appropriate law enforcement.
c. Nothing in this policy limits any additional penalties or consequences that may be set forth in separate agreements, contracts or other writings with any guest, employee, volunteer, contractor or vendor.
d. By determination of Law Enforcement and Pursuant to DRMC §38-131, a person at guilt or held liable will be subject to the following maximum penalties: (1) First Violation…$50.00, (2) Second and Subsequent Violations…$999.00 and/or up to 300 days in jail for subsequent offenses.
Denver Zoological Foundation, Inc. will take seriously reports of all weapons at, on, or within the Denver Zoo campus. All members of the Denver Zoo community have the responsibility to report the presence of weapons.
a. If there is an immediate threat of violence, call 911 right away.
b. Non-threatening reports may be reported to Denver Zoo Security at 303 880-3266.
c. Retaliation against any individual of the Denver Zoo community who reports the presence of weapons on campus is a violation of this policy. Any individual who engages in retaliation will be subject to penalties similar to those imposed for possession of a weapon.
This Denver Zoo Weapons Policy may be published in a variety of iterations to accommodate for the appropriate audience and space constraints. A full version of this policy will always be available at www.denverzoo.org/weaponspolicy.
Current publications of this policy to Denver Zoo guests are as follows:
i. Website
1. Except as permitted by state or city law, the Denver Zoo prohibits any person from using, possessing, carrying, displaying or distributing any real or simulated weapon on or within the Denver Zoo campus, including but not limited to firearms, certain knives (see D.R.M.C. §38-117, 38-119, and 38-131), explosives or incendiary devices, toy blasters, squirt guns, plastic knives or swords. The Denver Zoo campus includes Denver Zoo parking facilities and structures.
ii. Printed Map
1. Except as permitted by state or city law, the Denver Zoo prohibits any person from using, possessing, carrying, displaying or distributing any real or simulated weapon on or within the Denver Zoo campus, including but not limited to firearms, certain knives (see D.R.M.C. §38-117, 38-119, and 38-131), explosives or incendiary devices, toy blasters, squirt guns, plastic knives or swords. The Denver Zoo campus includes Denver Zoo parking facilities and structures.