Paxton vows to "continue to fight" after Texas Supreme Court rules in favor of State Fair's gun ban
DALLAS — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has vowed to continue defending what he considers Texans' right to carry firearms on land owned or leased by governmental entities.
The Texas Supreme Court ruled Thursday night that it would not block a firearms ban at the State Fair of Texas. Paxton's office had sued claiming the city and the fair are violating state law by prohibiting most people from bringing firearms onto public property.
A Dallas County judge declined to issue an injunction preventing the ban's enforcement. Neither the Fifteenth Court of Appeals or the Supreme Court intervened.
"Texans have a right to lawfully carry and the City of Dallas has no authority to contract their rights away to a private entity," Paxton said in a statement Friday. "This case is not over. I will continue to fight this on the merits to uphold Texans' ability to defend themselves, which is protected by State law. While Texas clearly prohibits this type of gun ban, I will be working with the Legislature this session to protect law-abiding citizens' Second Amendment rights on public property."
Justice Jimmy Blalock wrote in the opinion declining to block the Fair's gun rule that the state's motion did not take a position on whether a private entity, like the State Fair of Texas, can prohibit patrons from carrying guns.
"Whether Texans have a legal right to carry handguns at a mass public event of this nature is not a question that should ever be in doubt. Law-abiding handgun owners in Texas know that there are certain places where they may not carry their weapon. They need to know—with maximum clarity—whether the State Fair is one of those places. Yet the State's filings do not even attempt to answer that question," Blalock wrote. "This Court cannot possibly order the State Fair to allow handguns to be carried at this year's Fair when the party seeking that relief does not even argue that Texas law obligates the Fair to do so."
A full trial on the merits of the state's case is scheduled for June in Dallas County district court.
Fair Safety
The gun rule isn't the only safety change the State Fair made for 2024. Security has other changes as you enter the fairgrounds.
Security cameras are part of a network of surveillance connected to the State Fair Command Center.
An average of 100,000 people a day will visit the state fair for the next 24-day run.
The Fair's safety team will also include 200 retired police officers and private security personnel.
The State Fair of Texas is also cracking down on what items people will be allowed to carry into Fair Park this year.
- No bags or soft-shell coolers larger than 9" x 10" x 12"
- No hard-sided coolers
- No loose ice. If you are bringing an item that needs to remain chilled, please use ice packs or ice contained in a bag
- No knives with a blade over 5.5"
Before attending the fair, fairgoers are encouraged to visit BigTex.com for specific guidelines.
