Dispute over gun ban at State Fair of Texas goes to Texas Supreme Court

DALLAS – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is taking the dispute over the gun ban at the State Fair of Texas to the Texas Supreme Court.

Paxton's office filed a petition with the state Supreme Court to block the fair's new gun policy.

According to this policy, it is not permitted to bring weapons onto the exhibition grounds, even if the owner has a permit to carry them.

Paxton has tried several times to block the measure, arguing that the ban violates state law because the State Fair is held on state land.

The State Fair says it is allowed to enforce the gun ban because it is a nonprofit organization that leases the property from the city of Dallas.

A judge in Dallas and the 15th Circuit Court of Appeals had ruled in favor of the fair in previous challenges filed by the Attorney General's Office regarding the ban.

Paxton is requesting an immediate resolution to stop the gun ban before the State Fair begins on Friday.

Legal experts say the Supreme Court could issue a ruling or declare the matter within the jurisdiction of the legislature and leave it to clarify the text of the law when it reconvenes in January.

Until now, people with a firearms license were allowed to bring firearms onto the exhibition grounds.

Under the new rules, anyone attempting to bring a weapon to the show will be asked to return the weapon to their vehicle.

If they refuse, law enforcement could be involved.

The policy change came after three people were injured in a shooting at the fair last year.

The suspected shooter, Cameron Turner, did not have a firearms permit.

Several Republicans have spoken out against the ban since it was announced earlier this year.

70 Republicans in the Texas House of Representatives have sent a letter to the State Fair of Texas urging them to reconsider the ban on weapons at the fairgrounds.

The State Fair of Texas begins on Friday, September 27th.