The State Fair of Texas is one of the biggest showcases of the culture and community that Texas offers. However, the increase in gun violence across the United States has sent ripples throughout the country, reaching even the fair grounds. This motivated the State Fair of Texas to implement a gun ban on fair grounds. This policy led to controversy among many texans with Attorney General Ken Paxton suing the City of Dallas for infringing on the rights of fairgoers.
The City of Dallas states that during the 24 days the fair runs, it is leased to the nonprofit organization called the State Fair of Texas, meaning that the event will operate independent of city oversight. In light of this, AG Ken Paxton has challenged legal guidelines that he himself set in 2016 that stated that non-profit and private entities could restrict the access of guns on their property.
Although some attendees joke about annual “shootings” at the fair, the underlying reality is far more concerning. In light of recent events, Attorney General Ken Paxton’s lawsuit against the City of Dallas raises concerns over the safety and security of fairgoers and the priorities of politicians.
Texas prides itself on its liberty and rights to carry a gun, as shown through House Bill 1927, which effectively overturned of the need for a license to carry, allowing individuals over the age of 21 to carry their firearm in public without a license or training. Despite tragic school shootings like Uvalde and incidents at the state fair in 2023, many Texans are enraged by the new gun ban as it limits their 2nd Amendment right to bear arms.
As we continue to experience the lack of gun control in this country, AG Ken Paxton’s lawsuit against the City of Dallas reflects the priorities of many politicians in the ‘Great State of Texas,’ priorities that fail to consider the realities that students, teachers, and parents live with every day.
After the tragic shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas, many politicians quoted the one-liner that is heard from sea to sea after every shooting: “My thoughts and prayers.” Yet AG Ken Paxton took to a podcast where he stated, “There’s always a plan. I believe God always has a plan… Life is short no matter what it is” (Washington Post). Paxton’s remarks rubbed salt in the wounds of many survivors and families of those who have lost their lives to gun violence.
As gun violence plagues our country, we continue to see a lack of action from our elected officials, leaving school districts with the heavy burden of ensuring safe and secure campuses without the support of the government through gun control. Teachers and administration are at the forefront of this issue, having to enforce security measures and deal with the lack of federal and state support, all while prioritizing the education of their students. Across the country, students are forced to endure lengthy security screenings every morning and live in fear that one day, their school might be the next target.
As these challenges evolve, the call for reformative gun control measures becomes more urgent. AG Ken Paxton’s actions reflect a painful reality in this country: for many Americans, their right to bear arms means more than the lives of students, teachers, and families who deal with the uncertainty of gun violence on their campuses or at the State Fair of Texas.
