Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has threatened to sue the city of Dallas for banning guns from the state fair.
The State Fair of Texas is an annual event, but it has just implemented a new policy banning open and concealed firearms carry for 2024.
Paxton has pointed out that the event is held on state property and leased to the nonprofit that holds the event — which means it is subject to state laws against prohibiting licensed gun holders from carrying on government property.
In a letter to Dallas’s interim city manager, Kimberly Tolbert, Paxton wrote, “As you may know, the State Fair of Texas has announced that persons with a license to carry (LTC) cannot bring their firearm to the fair.”
“Our office views this statement by the State Fair of Texas as an implication that the City of Dallas (a political subdivision of the state) is prohibiting a license holder from entering or remaining on premises or other place owned or leased by the City of Dallas in violation of Tex. Gov’t Code § 411.209(a),” the attorney general continued.
Paxton said the city would be given 15 days to reverse course, or his office would sue and seek between $1,000 and $1,500 per day that guns are prohibited from the event.
The fair runs from September 27 through October 20.
A City of Dallas spokesperson told The Hill, “We are reviewing the letter from the Texas Attorney General’s Office and will respond accordingly.”
State Fair spokesperson Karissa Condoianis told the outlet, “We stand ready to cooperate with the City of Dallas, as needed.”
Condoianis continued, “It appears from the letter that the Attorney General’s Office is seeking clarification regarding the City’s relationship with the State Fair of Texas.”
“The State Fair of Texas is—and always has been—a private entity. As a private, not-for-profit organization, the State Fair of Texas leases property from the City of Dallas for its event. The State Fair is not a government entity nor is it controlled by a government entity. As such, our volunteer board of directors, representing a mix of viewpoints from throughout our community have made a decision regarding weapons at the Fair,” she added.
“The State Fair of Texas has long been, and continues to be, a strong supporter of the rights of responsible gun owning Texans,” Condoianis said.
“We know that this is an important issue for many Texans, and that the Fair’s decision may disappoint potential fairgoers who regularly and responsibly practice License to Carry or Constitutional Carry,” she continued. “However, the Fair strongly believes that this is the right decision moving forward to ensure a safe environment and family-friendly atmosphere.”