A Texas appeals court has delivered another blow to Attorney General Ken Paxton’s challenge to the State Fair of Texas gun ban, just over a month before the annual weeklong event returns to Dallas. The three justices on the 15th Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously affirmed a lower court’s rejection of Paxton’s argument, which claimed that the policy violated a state law that bars local governments from limiting semi-automatic rifles in most public spaces.
Background
The State Fair’s gun ban began in 2024, a year after a shooting that injured three people at the event. Dozens of Texas House Republicans pushed back against the policy, saying that it makes the event “less safe.” Paxton quickly sued to overturn the restrictions, but his effort has suffered multiple defeats in court.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the State Fair of Texas said the nonprofit is pleased with the decision and believes the policy is “the correct decision” to protect attendees’ safety. The attorney general’s office and the city of Dallas didn’t respond to comment requests.
Original reporting: Dallas TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
