Texas Court of Appeals Denies Paxton’s Request to Block Gun Ban at State Fair
Recently, the 15th Court of Appeals in Dallas County denied Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s request to block a gun ban imposed by the State Fair of Texas. Despite Paxton’s efforts, the fair will proceed this weekend with the gun ban in effect.
The initial ruling allowing the gun ban was made by Dallas County District Court Judge Emily Tobolowsky, and the denial of Paxton’s request by the appeals court solidified the fair’s implementation of the policy.
In response to the decision, the State Fair of Texas released a statement expressing their approval of the appeals court ruling. They believe their new weapons policy aligns with the law and are eager to welcome visitors to the opening day of the 2024 fair.
Paxton, however, was quick to voice his opposition on social media, stating his intention to challenge the decision in the Texas Supreme Court. He firmly believes that the City of Dallas and the State Fair of Texas cannot override state law by prohibiting firearms.
The State Fair of Texas is set to kick off on Friday, Sept. 27, and will run until Oct. 20. This year’s gun ban follows a shooting incident at the fair’s food court last year, where three individuals were injured.
Paxton had previously filed a lawsuit against the city and the State Fair of Texas, arguing that the fair’s gun ban violated state laws restricting local governments from regulating guns on their properties. While Paxton contends that the fair operates under the city’s authority, officials from both entities maintain that the fair has autonomy during its operation, justifying their decision to ban guns this year.
The recent policy allows active and retired peace officers to carry firearms within the fairgrounds, while private entities on government-leased property were previously able to ban guns according to a 2016 opinion that was later withdrawn by Paxton’s office.
As the legal battle continues, all eyes are on the Texas Supreme Court to see how they will rule on this contentious issue.