Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has issued a notice to the City of Dallas, urging it to rescind the State Fair of Texas's recent policy prohibiting citizens from lawfully carrying firearms on the premises during the annual event. The State Fair of Texas, which manages Fair Park under a twenty-five-year lease agreement with the city since 2002, announced this prohibition.
The policy directly contravenes state law, which allows licensed gun owners to carry firearms in places owned or leased by governmental entities unless explicitly restricted by state statute. As Fair Park is owned by the City of Dallas, Paxton's office views this prohibition as an unlawful infringement on the rights of Texas LTC holders.
Attorney General Paxton has given Dallas fifteen days to amend its stance before initiating legal action for injunctive relief and civil penalties. "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," said Paxton. "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."
To read the letter, click here.