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Despite the attorney general's claims, Dallas city officials have distanced themselves from the State Fair’s decision, in a statement on Thursday emphasizing that the city had no involvement in shaping the fair’s policies.

 “The City was not involved in the State Fair of Texas’ announcement of its enhanced weapons policy. The State Fair of Texas is a private event operated and controlled by a private, non-profit entity and not the City,” the statement read. The city of Dallas also expressed its disagreement with the allegations brought against it in the lawsuit.

Historical Overview 

Organizers of the State Fair of Texas have pointed out that similar firearm restrictions are in place at other large annual events across the state, such as the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, the San Antonio Livestock Show, and Rodeo Austin.

These events, much like the State Fair of Texas, prioritize the safety of their patrons by enforcing strict gun policies.

It is also notable that firearm bans are common in certain public and government-owned spaces. For instance, only police officers are permitted to carry guns in courthouses and other federal and state-owned buildings, where screening devices are often used to enforce these bans.

The State Fair of Texas has a long and storied history, tracing its roots back to the Dallas State Fair & Exposition, which was chartered as a private corporation on January 30, 1886. 

The nonprofit entity has been operating the fair for 128 years. 

The first State Fair was held in 1887, and the current 277-acre fairgrounds in the heart of Dallas were developed in 1935. The 1936 Texas Centennial Exposition, held at Fair Park, attracted more than six million visitors over a six-month period, solidifying the event’s place in Texas history.