Posted on 09/19/2024 8:26:09 AM PDT by Resolute Conservative
DALLAS - The State Fair of Texas starts next Friday with uncertainty about its new restrictions on gun owners.
New and Permanent Teeth in 24 Hours - Life Changing! Now offering No Credit Check in-house financing. Low Down payment - 0% Interest - Extended monthly terms - Payments from $250 a month for full-mouth dental implants G4 By Golpa | Sponsored Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton says the fair is violating state law by banning license to carry holders from bringing guns onto the fairgrounds.
The State Fair is run by a nonprofit organization and the property is owned by the City of Dallas. Because it is city-owned property, Ken Paxton argues both parties are violating a state law.
Meanwhile, the fair is standing by their ban.
Both sides are expected to be in a Dallas courtroom on Thursday morning where a judge could issue a ruling immediately. Experts expect that ruling to be appealed no matter what.
Texas was an outlier when it came to state fairs. Most ban concealed carry.
The State Fair implemented the new gun policy following a shooting last year, although the suspect in that case was not a licensed gun owner.
Dozens of Republican lawmakers called for the fair to reverse course. When the fair refused, Paxton quickly sued the City of Dallas, claiming the city is responsible for rules on its property.
In its last session, the state legislature expanded gun rights on public property.
Constitutional lawyer David Coale believes Paxton is leaning on that statute.
"The practical problem is most public places where people want to go aren't operated by the government. It's the State Fair, the aquarium, the zoo. It's some private business operating on a lease by the city. So, yeah, we've got this new statute, but what is unclear is who really owns this property when you have a lease," Coale said.
In 2016, Paxton gave a non-binding opinion giving nonprofits to take actions like the fair.
In fact, in that same year, Paxton's office told the Fort Worth mayor that the Fort Worth Zoo was within its rights to ban concealed carry.
On Sept. 10, after Paxton sued Dallas, he withdrew that 2016 opinion. Coale says that is not an uncommon action, but will certainly be used against the Attorney General in court.
"Attorney General opinions are useful, but they are not court precedent. They are not binding. They do get withdrawn and amended from time to time and that's in his judgement to do that. The question is who owns the State Fair for purposes of our law about public places. Is it the city who owns the land where the fair is or is it the State Fair of Texas, the entity who operates it, because they have leased it and do all the things that make it into the fair?" asked Coale.
Cool!
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Oops my editing powers need tuning. I thought I got them all.
0% Interest? I’m getting me some new teeth!
I was at the fair several years ago and a simple pocket knife that I routinely carry barred me from entering the fair grounds. I had to take it back to my car or not go in.
Incidentally, Texas “concealed carry” law also covers other weapons that are not prohibited by other statutes.
;^)
Several years back I attended the state fair @ Tampa fairgrounds. Anyone holding a CWL was welcomed. There was a separate lane setup just for us.
The local news was informing the populace then concealed carry was A-OK.
RKBA ping.
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