Ken Paxton threatens to sue city of Dallas over Texas state fair gun ban

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is leaning on the state fair to reverse its decision to ban guns during the event.

The State Fair of Texas said it would implement the ban this year after a shooting in 2023 left three people injured. The fair is one of the largest in the country and attracts thousands of Texans who flock to the event for games, car shows, and the Red River Rivalry college football game between the University of Texas and the University of Oklahoma.

In a statement posted on X, Paxton said, “I have sent a notice letter to the City of Dallas directing it to withdraw the statement made by the State Fair of Texas … that prohibits citizens from lawfully carrying a firearm on the premise.”

“The State Fair of Texas’s recent policy that infringes on LTC holders’ Second Amendment rights is unlawful,” he added.

The move led to 70 lawmakers from the state House and Senate signing a letter asking the board of directors for the State Fair of Texas to rescind the ban, arguing that it will make fairgoers “less safe.”

Paxton contends that because Fair Park, where the fair is held, is owned by the city of Dallas, the State Fair of Texas, a nonprofit organization, cannot prevent someone from carrying a firearm because it would violate Texas code that prohibits restrictions on carrying a gun on property owned or leased by the government.

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Fair spokeswoman Karissa Condoianis acknowledged the new policy has led to both “criticism and praise,” while defending the move and pointing to the fair permitting concealed carry in the past, “even after virtually all other public events ceased to allow the same.”

The fair is scheduled to run for nearly a month, from Sept. 27 to Oct. 20. After the 15 days' notice Paxton gave, he has threatened to file suit and collect penalties of $1,000 to $1,500 for each violation.