DTS prohibits the possession and use of firearms and other potential weapons (e.g. knives, clubs, swords,spears, axes, arrows) on or in its property. This prohibition includes any devices that might reasonably bemistaken for a firearm or other weapon and applies to the Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, and Washington DClocations as well as all DTS owned or leased classrooms, offices, residential areas, and/or library spacesused by DTS for lodging and educational purposes.Some states, including the state of Texas, allow a license holder to carry a concealed handgun on property orin buildings owned or leased by an institution of higher education. However, as a private institution, theseminary is allowed to and has opted out of this provision. Firearms are prohibited in any DTS owned buildingor site where DTS classes are held or services provided and are prohibited in DTS vehicles only. In stateswhere it is legal, license holders may keep firearms in their vehicles while parked on campus or at anextension site. Exceptions to this policy must be authorized in advance and in writing by the administration. Aconfidential request for exception is available by sending an email to the DTS chief of police at jbloom@dts.edu.
DTS also strictly prohibits the declaration, display, or inadvertent disclosure of a firearm by a license holder.The open carry of a firearm on the premises, on any public or private driveway, street, walkway, or parkingarea of any institution of higher education is prohibited by Texas and other states’ laws.Furthermore, DTS weapons policy prohibits the display of other weapons, or imitations thereof, or bladedinstruments with blades longer than 5.5 inches unless in an enclosed, secured display case that precludesthe ready access to the weapon. According to Texas House Bill 1935 (2017) and Texas Penal Code 46, DTS is"location restricted" to include its owned or leased residential areas and prohibits carrying knives with bladeslonger than 5.5 inches. Knives are considered weapons as are any bladed hand instrument capable ofinflicting severe bodily injury or death by cutting or stabbing a person with the instrument. The 5.5-inchmeasurement includes the length of the flat-edged part of the knife, up to but not including the handle. Typesof knives include throwing stars (and any other type of throwing knife), swords, spears, switchblade knives,pocketknives, and Balisongs (butterfly knives). Moreover, blades under 5.5 inches are expected to be storedresponsibly and in a non-threaten manner. NB: DTS exempts cutlery stored in the residential kitchens forculinary purposes.Violations of the DTS Weapons Policy is a serious offense and will be referred to both internal administrativeand external police authorities.

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