Texas Court Upholds State Fair Handgun Ban

The 15th Court of Appeals unanimously upheld a handgun ban at the State Fair of Texas on Thursday, affirming a lower court's summary judgment that dismissed a lawsuit filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in August 2024. The ruling ensures the ban remains in place just over a month before the fair returns to Fair Park in Dallas.

Paxton argued that the policy violated Texas Government Code Section 411.209, which prevents political subdivisions from creating gun-free zones. However, the court determined that while the City of Dallas is a political subdivision, the State Fair of Texas is a private entity. Because the State Fair operates the event, the court ruled that the state statute prohibiting government-led gun-free zones does not apply.

The court further noted that the city's lease of Fair Park to the fair organizers was silent on handgun carriage and did not constitute a prohibited government action. The State Fair of Texas implemented the ban in 2024 following a shooting that injured three people, maintaining that the policy is necessary for attendee safety. Paxton may now appeal the decision to the Texas Supreme Court.