Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is ramping up the pressure [1] on the City of Dallas, threatening legal action if the State Fair of Texas does not roll back its recently imposed gun ban.
The new policy prohibits all firearms, including those carried by licensed individuals, from Fair Park during the fair’s run.
In a press release on Wednesday, Paxton called the ban “unlawful” and set a 15-day deadline for the city to address the issue.
If not resolved, he stated, his office will pursue a lawsuit seeking injunctive relief and civil penalties.
🚨 BREAKING: I have sent a notice letter to the City of Dallas directing it to withdraw the statement made by the State Fair of Texas, the organization contracted to run Fair Park during the annual event, that prohibits citizens from lawfully carrying a firearm on the premise.… pic.twitter.com/dBzePtPAUi [2]
— Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) August 14, 2024 [3]
Fair Park, owned by the City of Dallas and leased to the State Fair of Texas each year, will see the ban enforced due to last year’s shooting incident in a food court area.
The 2024 safety plan for the fair includes a blanket prohibition on guns, with exceptions only for current or retired peace officers.
Despite calls from lawmakers to overturn the policy, fair officials have maintained [4] their stance.
Paxton’s argument hinges on the assertion that the gun ban infringes on Texans’ rights under state law, which permits license-to-carry holders to carry firearms on government-owned property unless specifically restricted by state statute.
In his letter to Dallas interim City Manager Kim Tolbert, Paxton underscored that most of Fair Park does not fall under areas where weapons are banned by state law.
The Attorney General’s office warned that civil penalties for each day the policy remains in place could range between $1,000 and $1,500.
Fair spokesperson Karissa Condoianis had defended the new policy before Paxton’s letter, stating it was a necessary precaution. She emphasized that the event would feature hundreds of armed police officers and extensive security measures, including a 24/7 command center and restricted bag sizes.
State Representative Brian Harrison, representing District 10, criticized the fair’s decision. Among nearly 70 lawmakers who urged the fair to revoke the policy, Harrison argued that the ban would actually compromise safety rather than enhance it. “They’re making the wrong decision,” he said. “What they’ve done is actually reduce safety.”
I stand with my colleagues in opposing the State Fair of Texas’ gun ban. Seventy signatures strong! Gun-free zones don’t make us safer—they make us targets. Texans have the right to defend themselves. #2A [5] #txlege [6] #NRA [7] #GOA [8] @TXGunRights [9] @TSRA_outreach [10] pic.twitter.com/FmkM0EGsAR [11]
— Dustin Burrows (@Burrows4TX) August 12, 2024 [12]
