Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued the city of Dallas as he seeks to overturn a ban on firearms at the State Fair.
"I warned fifteen days ago that if they did not end their unlawful conduct I would see them in court, and now I will," Paxton said in a statement announcing the decision, which targets city authorities and state fair officials. He had given authorities a hard deadline to comply on August 15.
"Neither the City of Dallas nor the State Fair of Texas can infringe on Texans' right to self-defense," he added. City authorities said they disagreed with the allegations, saying "the City was not involved in the State Fair of Texas' announcements of its enhanced weapons policy," a Dallas spokesperson said in a statement.
The authorities' decision to ban weapons in the fair's premises comes after last year's shooting on the fairgrounds, where three people were injured.
The suspect, 22-year-old Cameron Turner, was indicted with three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He told police that "a group of big males" approached him and he "went into defensive mode" to protect his family when he started shooting, per WFAA. Turner is set to go on trail in late October.
According to the Texas Tribune, a fair spokesperson said the organization would follow Dallas' guidance on the issue. The fair has so far rejected all criticism since announcing the new policy earlier in August.
Fair spokesperson Karissa Condoianis acknowledged the move caused controversy, but said "this is the right decision moving forward to ensure a safe environment and family-friendly atmosphere." Paxton, however, is seeking fines for each day the policy is not overturned.
Like Paxton, many local Republican lawmakers are seeking the overturning of the decision, with 71 officials and nominees signing a petition to that end. They said the new policy makes the fair "less safe," arguing that "gun free zones are magnets for crime because they present less of a threat to those who seek to do evil."
They also threatened with legislative moves. "Your actions raise questions about the need for legislation next session to further protect these rights on lands managed by the public," the lawmakers wrote. "The State Fair of Texas claims to be a 'celebration of all things Texas,' yet this new policy is anything but a celebration of Texas," the petition added.
Condoianis disagreed with the stance, saying other large gatherings have implemented similar rules, like sporting events and concerts. She added that 200 police officers will be patrolling the grounds and attendees go through a screening process before entering.
The Minnesota State Fair, the country's second-largest behind the State Fair of Texas, has similar policies that prohibit visitors to bring firearms into the fairground, though the state law allows open carry if the owner has a valid permit.
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