An all-Republican Texas appeals court has dealt a significant setback to Attorney General Ken Paxton’s challenge against the firearms ban at the State Fair, just a month before the much-anticipated event returns to Dallas.
In his 2024 lawsuit against the city and the nonprofit organization that manages the fair, Paxton contended that the ban contravened a state law prohibiting local governments from restricting firearms in most public venues. The fair is hosted at Fair Park, a property owned by the city and leased to the fair’s operators.
On Thursday, the three justices of the 15th Court of Appeals unanimously upheld a lower court’s dismissal of Paxton’s claims. Their ruling clarified that the state law pertains exclusively to the actions of government entities, aligning with the city’s stance that it does not partake in the formulation or enforcement of the fair’s policies.
“It does not apply to private entities such as the State Fair,” the court’s opinion stated.
A representative for the State Fair of Texas expressed satisfaction with the ruling, asserting that the policy is a “correct decision” aimed at ensuring the safety of attendees.
Neither the attorney general’s office nor the city of Dallas responded to requests for comments.
The gun ban was implemented in 2024 following a shooting at the event that left three individuals injured. A number of Texas House Republicans opposed the policy, claiming it compromises safety at the fair. In response, Paxton filed a lawsuit to overturn the restrictions and subsequently retracted a 2016 legal opinion that had empowered private nonprofits to prohibit firearms on city-leased land.
However, Paxton’s legal challenges have faced numerous setbacks in the courts.
In 2024, the Texas Supreme Court rejected his emergency request to block the fair’s gun policy. The following year, a Dallas County district court granted summary judgment to the city of Dallas and the State Fair, effectively dismissing the case.
Recent reports indicate that the State Fair is set to maintain its gun ban for this year’s event.
