Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against the City of Austin earlier today for violation of state law (SB 273) passed last session — which prevents municipalities from banning lawfully carried firearms in government buildings.
The City of Austin had claimed exemption from that requirement, asserting that Austin City Hall satisfied the carve-out in the legislation for courts. However, after an investigation into the merits of that claim initiated by a citizen complaint from local Second Amendment activist Michael Cargill, the Office of the Attorney General found that Austin City Hall did not meet that requirement and was in fact in violation of state government code.
On July 5, the Office of the Attorney General gave the city final notice to come into compliance with the law and thereby allow licensed citizens to lawfully carry their firearms without interference — to which the City refused. As a result, the City of Austin, Mayor Steve Adler, et al — find themselves on the defendant end of yet another lawsuit regarding constitutionality of their regulations.
In regards to the lawsuit, Attorney General Ken Paxton made the following statement via press release:
“I will always make sure that governments do not trample on the Second Amendment rights of Texans, and if they do, we will sue.”
Inevitably, the City will lose the lawsuit for abridging citizens’ rights. It is fortunate that the Attorney General is stepping in on their behalf.
Unfortunately, Austin taxpayers will once again be on the hook for the incompetence of their local officials.
The full text of the lawsuit can be found here.
