The Office of the Attorney General of Texas has upheld our policy barring weapons on our grounds, rejecting a citizen complaint filed last fall.
The Attorney General determined that the policy does not violate Texas law, ruling that the Dallas Zoo “meets all requirements to qualify as an amusement park,” which are legally allowed to prohibit weapons. As a privately-operated, non-profit zoo, we have controlled access, security guards on-site, and rides that are inspected annually by the state Department of Insurance.
In a letter to the zoo dated March 30, 2016, the Attorney General’s Office said it has closed the complaint.
“We’re heartened that the Attorney General realizes that our zoo, which is visited by more than 1 million people each year, isn’t the place for weapons,” said Gregg Hudson, CEO and president of the Dallas Zoo. “The vast majority of our guests are families with children, and they have strongly supported us on this issue.”
Penal Code section 30.06 and 30.07 signs are posted at each zoo entrance, explaining that handguns, concealed and open-carried, are prohibited.
We have both Dallas Police Department officers and a private security firm on grounds daily. In addition, our staff is trained by the Dallas Police Department to respond to issues related to animals.
“The safety and security of our guests is of utmost importance to us, and always will be,” Hudson said.
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