“There is no overlapping leadership structure between [the State Fair of Texas] and the City,” the fair’s attorneys wrote. “The fair is governed by a 20-person board of directors, none of whom are government officials or employees.”
Additionally, the attorneys emphasized that the nonprofit is financially independent from the city and receives no public funds to operate the fair.
The State Fair’s attorneys also pointed to a previous court ruling, which found that the city has no influence over the nonprofit’s internal decision-making, dismissing any claims that the fair is simply a “shell corporation” for the City of Dallas.
AUTHOR’S NOTE
The ongoing legal battle between Attorney General Paxton and the State Fair of Texas has raised important questions about the authority of private organizations to impose firearm restrictions on public land.
As a resident of Dallas, Texas and someone that has often attended the State Fair I am not unbiased on this topic.
I am 100% in favor of the 2nd amendment and gun owners’ rights. But I am also 100% in favor of the State Fairs gun ban policy.
