City of Dallas might be sued by Texas AG Ken Paxton over gun ban
Dallas, Texas – Attorney General Ken Paxton has sent a strong warning to the City of Dallas, threatening legal action over the State Fair of Texas’s recent decision to ban guns from the event. This action sparked debate and discussion throughout Texas. This development centers on a concerning incident last year whereby three people were injured by a gunshot at the fair.
The State Fair of Texas, a staple event that draws massive crowds for its blend of entertainment, sports, and cultural showcases, announced the implementation of this gun ban as a safety measure. However, Paxton’s office argues that the decision violates state laws concerning the rights of Licensed Carry (LTC) holders.
In a public statement released on social media platform X, Paxton expressed his disapproval:
“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. Texas law clearly states that license to carry holders may not be prevented from carrying a firearm on property owned or leased by the government unless otherwise prevented by state statute. The State Fair of Texas’s recent policy that infringes on LTC holders’ Second Amendment rights is unlawful. Dallas has fifteen days to fix the issue, otherwise I will see them in court.”
This argument depends on a Texas law prohibiting any ban on carrying weapons on leased or owned government land. Paxton’s characterization of the fair, run by a nonprofit, would thus come under this provision.
The response to the attorney general’s stance has been polarized. Although some agree with Paxton, thinking that carrying weapons makes the fair safer, others have hailed the fair’s decision as a vital action to guarantee public safety, particularly in regard to last year’s violence. Fair spokesman Karissa Condoianis said the policy had certainly received “criticism and praise,” while also noting the fair had let concealed carry earlier, “even after virtually all other public events ceased to allow the same.”
The dispute is framed against the dates of the fair, which run from September 27 to October 20. Paxton’s legal notice gives the city 15 days to reply or face possible lawsuits. Paxton has specified fines for each case the prohibition is implemented ranging from $1,000 to $1,500.
The community remains caught in a dispute that touches on the fundamental of national conversations about safety, rights, and the interpretation of laws in public spaces while both sides of the conflict get ready for more developments. The result of this dispute might establish standards for how comparable problems are resolved in other regions and states.
To read the letter, click here.
