Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s lawsuit against the State Fair of Texas gun ban was dismissed by a Dallas County District Judge.
DALLAS — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s legal campaign against a gun ban at the State Fair of Texas has faced another roadblock.
On June 24, Judge Emily Tobolowsky denied Paxton’s motion and dismissed the suit. Judge Tobolowsky did not provide reasoning for the dismissal in court filings.
“The State Fair of Texas is pleased with the outcome and expectant conclusion to this litigation,” a statement from fair officials. “The State Fair’s number one priority is the safety of our fairgoers, vendors, volunteers, and staff, and we will continue to work with the Dallas Police Department (DPD) to create a safe and secure environment.”
In 2024, Paxton filed the lawsuit against the City of Dallas, City Manager Kim Tolbert and the State Fair of Texas over the event’s gun ban, a policy that was launched after a man opened fire in the food court area of the event in 2023, injuring three people. The shooter, Cameron Turner, was sentenced to 12 years in prison last week.
Paxton, who announced a campaign for U.S. Senate earlier this year, believes the gun ban violates a state law that bars most government bodies from banning weapons on their property. Paxton argued that since Dallas owns Fair Park, the ban was unlawful. The City of Dallas countered that by stating that it leased the property to the State Fair of Texas, a private entity, over the course of the fair.
The City and fair also argued that Paxton’s filing went against his own 2016 opinion, which said private groups could ban guns on government-leased land without penalty—as long as the government had no say in the decision. Paxton has since withdrawn that opinion.
Paxton’s appeals to block the gun ban for the 2024 State Fair of Texas were also denied by Judge Tobolowsky and the 15th Court of Appeals last year. Paxton eventually brought the case to the Texas Supreme Court, but the court denied the appeal, allowing the gun ban to be enforced at the 2024 fair.
In the months since, Republican lawmakers have attempted to pass a bill targeting the state fair gun ban. That bill died in the House.
In April, Paxton filed another lawsuit against Dallas over the gun policies at the Music Hall at Fair Park and the Majestic Theater.