Ken Paxton Threatens Legal Action After Texas State Fair Bans Guns: ‘Violation of Second Amendment Rights’

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has threatened to sue the city of Dallas over a new policy banning concealed carry at the highly anticipated State Fair of Texas.

The State Fair announced last week that no weapons would be allowed on the fairgrounds unless carried by retired or active law enforcement officers.

The move prompted the Republican attorney general to send a letter to Dallas’ acting city manager, Kim Tolbert.

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In an X postPaxton argues that the new policy violates existing Texas laws.

“Texas law is clear that permit holders cannot be prevented from carrying a firearm on government-owned or leased property unless prohibited by state law,” Paxton wrote. “The State Fair of Texas’ recent policy of infringing on the Second Amendment rights of permit holders is unlawful.”

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“Dallas has 15 days to fix this or I’ll see them in court,” he said.

The attorney general’s impending legal action comes after 70 state officials wrote a letter to the State Fair Grounds echoing Paxton’s disappointment with the new ban.

The State Fair argues that its status as a private nonprofit organization allows it to ban firearms.

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The fair stands by its policy change, saying there will be plenty of police and security at the 24-day event.

“We are aware that the Texas Attorney General’s Office has sent a letter to the City of Dallas regarding the recent gun announcement at the annual State Fair. The letter indicates that the Attorney General’s Office is seeking clarification regarding the City’s relationship with the State Fair of Texas — a private, non-profit organization — and the State Fair’s use of the fairgrounds under a long-term lease agreement between the two parties. We have not yet spoken with the City, but we are prepared to cooperate with them, if necessary,” the State Fair of Texas said in a statement to FOX 7.

The policy change came after a gunman shot and wounded three people inside the fair’s food court.

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Cameron Turner is the suspect and is expected to be tried in late October.

Tuner did not have a gun license and police are investigating how he managed to get the weapon through security, despite the metal detector.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the State Fair of Texas for comment.