In preparation for the upcoming State Fair of Texas, the board of directors has released this year’s safety policies, which still include prohibiting the licensed carrying of firearms by attendees.
According to the State Fair of Texas’ safety and security policies for this year’s event, even those with a license who would normally be allowed to carry a firearm on state-owned property will not be permitted to do so.
After allowing lawful carrying for 135 years, the event banned firearms in 2024 following a 2023 incident in which an unlicensed attendee shot and injured three people.
“The State Fair’s answer to a criminal sneaking in an illegal gun is to disarm law-abiding Texans — turning families into sitting ducks,” Chris McNutt, president of Texas Gun Rights, told Texas Scorecard.
“We will keep fighting until the legislature restores the right to carry on taxpayer-owned property, and holds gun-free zone enforcers legally responsible when they strip citizens of their ability to defend themselves.”
Soon after the ban was adopted, Attorney General Paxton filed suit against both the State Fair of Texas and the City of Dallas, arguing that licensed gun owners have the right to carry firearms into areas owned or leased by government entities.
Since its initial filing, the suit has made its way up to the 298th Judicial District Court in Dallas County, which ruled in July to uphold the ban.
Originally, Paxton sought a temporary injunction against the ban before the start of the fair in 2024, but the motion was dismissed, with the Texas Supreme Court ruling against it the night before the State Fair began.
During this year’s regular legislative session, multiple measures were introduced, including House Bill 1715 by State Rep. Briscoe Cain (R–Deer Park), that would have required contracts for the use of government property to include provisions that would prohibit the restriction of handgun license holders from carrying firearms on the property.
However, none of the measures dealing with the issue were considered by the House.
The 2025 State Fair of Texas will take place September 26–October 19.
