Texas Attorney General Paxton sues to block gun ban at the sprawling State Fair of Texas

DALLAS — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit Thursday seeking a ban on firearms at the State Fair of Texas, one of the state’s largest annual celebrations.

The fair’s organizers announced a ban on guns earlier this month after a shooting last year on the 277-acre (112-hectare) fairgrounds in the heart of Dallas. The move drew swift criticism from Republican state lawmakers, who have proudly expanded gun rights in recent years. Paxton, a Republican, threatened to sue if the ban was not repealed.

Paxton said Texas allows gun owners to carry weapons on premises owned or leased by government entities, unless otherwise prohibited by law. Fair Park is owned by the city of Dallas, which has a contract with the State Fair of Texas to manage the annual fair.

Paxton called the ban an illegal restriction on gun owners’ rights. Texas allows people to carry a handgun without a permitbackground check or training.

“Neither the City of Dallas nor the Texas State Fair can infringe on the right of the people of Texas to self-defense,” Paxton said.

Dallas city officials declined to comment on the lawsuit. Officials at the state fair did not immediately respond to emailed requests for comment.

The fair, which reopens in September and runs for nearly a month, dates back to 1886. In addition to a maze of carnival games, car shows and the Texas Star Ferris wheel, one of the tallest in the U.S., the fairgrounds are also home to the annual football rivalry between the University of Texas and the University of Oklahoma.