The Supreme Court of Texas has denied Attorney General Ken Paxton’s effort against the State Fair of Texas’ new firearm ban.
The decision came Thursday night, just one day before the fair begins on Friday.
Last month, fair organizers announced new safety regulations, including a blanket ban on all firearms, even for licensed carriers.
Paxton, however, filed a lawsuit against the City of Dallas and the State Fair of Texas, demanding the policy be reversed. He argued that licensed gun owners have the right to carry firearms in locations owned or leased by governmental entities unless explicitly restricted by state law. Fair Park is owned by the City of Dallas and is leased to the fair.
State Judge Emily Tobolowsky denied Paxton’s request for a temporary injunction against the ban. The ruling prompted Paxton to file an emergency motion for relief in Texas’ 15th Court of Appeals.
After the 15th Court of Appeals denied Paxton’s request, he turned to the Texas Supreme Court earlier this week in a final attempt to strike down the firearms ban before the fair begins.
Justice Jimmy Blacklock, joined by Chief Justice Nathan Hecht and Justice Evan Young, sided against Paxton, stating, “It should go without saying—though perhaps it cannot be said often enough—that a judge’s role in this case is not to decide whether the State Fair made a wise decision. Our job, instead, is to decide whether Texas law allowed the State Fair to make the decision for itself. The State declines to take a position on that essential question but nevertheless asks this Court for an injunction overriding the State Fair’s decision. It should also go without saying that our answer, for now, must be no.”
Paxton says his fight to protect the Second Amendment is far from over.
“Texans have a right to lawfully carry and the City of Dallas has no authority to contract their rights away to a private entity,” said Paxton. “This case is not over. I will continue to fight this on the merits to uphold Texans’ ability to defend themselves, which is protected by State law. While Texas clearly prohibits this type of gun ban, I will be working with the Legislature this session to protect law-abiding citizens’ Second Amendment rights on public property.”
The State Fair of Texas runs from Friday, Sept. 27 through Sunday, Oct. 20.
