Following a shooting incident at last year’s Texas State Fair that left three people wounded, the event’s organizers have implemented a new policy prohibiting firearms at the annual celebration. The decision, announced last week, has ignited a strong backlash from gun rights groups and several Republican state officials, including Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who has threatened legal action against the City of Dallas, which owns the fairgrounds, if the ban is not lifted.
This conflict highlights the ongoing tension between increasingly permissive state gun laws and the need to safeguard large public events from potential gun violence. It also reflects the broader national debate between advocates of expansive Second Amendment rights, who view carrying guns as essential for self-defense, and gun control proponents, who argue that more guns in public spaces increase the risk of deadly incidents.
In a letter to the fair’s organizers, signed by dozens of Republican state legislators and candidates, opponents of the gun ban argued that “gun-free zones are magnets for crime because they present less of a threat to those who seek to do evil.” The Texas Republican Party’s platform explicitly calls for the elimination of “gun-free” zones across the state.
Fair organizers defended their decision, stating that it was made after thorough review and consultation with security experts and in line with policies at similar events in Texas. Despite the new gun ban, the fair continues to express support for the rights of responsible gun owners in Texas.
Under Texas law, private property owners and nonprofit organizations, such as those running the state fair, are allowed to prohibit firearms on their premises. Other major Texas events, including sports competitions and the Houston Rodeo, have similar gun restrictions. However, the Texas State Fair holds a unique cultural significance, symbolized by the iconic “Big Tex” statue that greets visitors, and the debate over its gun policy has united Republican lawmakers who are otherwise divided on various issues.
Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick suggested that the matter could ultimately be settled in court, potentially extending the controversy beyond the start of this year’s fair, which runs from late September to October 20. Previously, the fair permitted concealed carry for those with a license, but this policy was reconsidered after the 2021 change in state law that allowed most adult Texans to carry handguns without a permit.
The shooting at last year’s fair, which occurred during a dispute in a food court, led to a temporary closure of the event. The 22-year-old involved in the shooting claimed self-defense, but he did not have a gun permit, according to officials at the time.
The fair is operated by a nonprofit organization, not the city itself, but because it takes place on city-owned property, Paxton’s office argues that the city may be in violation of state law by enforcing the gun ban.
Not all Republicans oppose the new policy. Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson, who switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party last year, has expressed confidence in the Dallas Police Department’s ability to ensure safety at the fair, suggesting that attendees do not need to carry firearms for their own protection.
