A Texas appeals court rejected a request by state Attorney General Ken Paxton to overturn a decision by the State Fair of Texas to ban all firearms in its grounds, but the official is vowing to take the issue further.
The judges upheld a ruling by a Dallas County District Court, which agreed with State Fair officials who claimed they could enforce the decision as a private nonprofit.
Paxton, however, said the ban violates state laws and anticipated he will request the state Supreme Court to overturn the ban. "Neither the City of Dallas nor the State Fair of Texas can infringe on Texans' right to self-defense," said Paxton in late August when suing the fair over the decision.
The authorities' decision to ban weapons in the fair's premises comes after last year's shooting on the fairgrounds, where three people were injured.
The suspect, 22-year-old Cameron Turner, was indicted with three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He told police that "a group of big males" approached him and he "went into defensive mode" to protect his family when he started shooting, per WFAA. Turner is set to go on trail in late October.
The fair has so far rejected all criticism since announcing the new policy earlier in August. Fair spokesperson Karissa Condoianis acknowledged the move caused controversy, but said "this is the right decision moving forward to ensure a safe environment and family-friendly atmosphere."
Like Paxton, many local Republican lawmakers are seeking the overturning of the decision, with 71 officials and nominees signing a petition to that end. They said the new policy makes the fair "less safe," arguing that "gun free zones are magnets for crime because they present less of a threat to those who seek to do evil."
They also threatened with legislative moves. "Your actions raise questions about the need for legislation next session to further protect these rights on lands managed by the public," the lawmakers wrote. "The State Fair of Texas claims to be a 'celebration of all things Texas,' yet this new policy is anything but a celebration of Texas," the petition added. However, days away from the beginning of the event, no legislation to undo the decision has been passed.
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