Texas AG Ken Paxton Notifies Dallas for Violating Second Amendment Rights [VIDEOS]

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is stepping up pressure in the city of Dallas, threatening legal action if the State Fair of Texas does not lift its recently imposed gun ban.

The new policy bans all firearms, including those carried by licensed persons, from Fair Park during the fair.

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In a news release Wednesday, Paxton called the ban “illegal” and set a 15-day deadline for the city to address the issue.

If it's not resolved, he said, his office will file a lawsuit seeking injunctive relief and civil penalties.

🚨 BREAKING: I have sent a warning letter to the City of Dallas instructing them 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 carrying legally a firearm in the area. premise.… pic.twitter.com/dBzePtPAUi

— Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) August 14, 2024

Fair Park, owned by the City of Dallas and leased to the State Fair of Texas each year, will implement the ban because of last year's shooting in a dining area.

The 2024 security plan for the fair includes a blanket ban on weapons, with exceptions only for current or retired peace officers.

Despite calls from lawmakers to overturn the policy, fair officials have done so maintained his stance

Paxton's argument rests on the contention that the gun ban infringes on Texans' rights under state law, which allows license holders to carry firearms on government property unless specifically restricted by the statute

In his letter to interim Dallas City Manager Kim Tolbert, Paxton emphasized that most of Fair Park does not fall within areas where guns are prohibited by state law.

The attorney general's office warned that civil penalties for each day the policy remains in effect could range from $1,000 to $1,500.

Fair spokeswoman Karissa Condoianis had defended the new policy before Paxton's letter, saying it was a necessary precaution. He stressed that the event will feature hundreds of armed police officers and extensive security measures, including a 24/7 command center and restricted bag sizes.

State Rep. Brian Harrison, representing District 10, criticized the fair's decision. Among nearly 70 lawmakers who urged the fair to reverse the policy, Harrison argued that the ban would actually compromise safety rather than improve it. “They're making the wrong decision,” he said. “What they've done is reduce security.”

I stand with my colleagues in opposing the ban on guns at the State Fair of Texas. Seventy strong signatures! Gun-free zones don't make us safer, they make us targets. Texans have the right to defend themselves. #2A #txlege #NRA #GOA @TXGunRights @TSRA_extension pic.twitter.com/FmkM0EGsAR

— Dustin Burrows (@Burrows4TX) August 12, 2024