DALLAS (AP) — The State Fair of Texas is laying down a new rule before millions of visitors flock through the gates for corn dogs, deep-fried delights and a friendly wave from a five-story cowboy named Big Tex: No guns allowed.

But that decision by fair organizers — which comes after a shooting last year on the 277-acre fairgrounds in the heart of Dallas — has drawn outrage from Republican lawmakers, who in recent years have proudly expanded gun rights in Texas. On Wednesday, the state’s attorney general threatened a lawsuit unless the fair reversed course.

“Dallas has fifteen days to fix the issue,” said Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, “otherwise I will see them in court.”

Tensions over where and how gun owners can carry firearms in public are frequent in Texas, but the standoff with one of the state’s most beloved institutions has moved the fight onto unusual turf. The fair has not backed down since cowboy hat-wearing organizers announced the new policy at a news conference last week.

The fair, which reopens in September and lasts for nearly a month, dates back to 1886. In addition to a maze of midway 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 college football rivalry between the University of Texas and University of Oklahoma. And after Big Tex, the towering cowboy that greets fairgoers, went up in flames in 2012 due to an electrical short, the fair mascot was met with great fanfare upon its return.

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[–] jam12705@lemmy.world 20 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Good, Paxton can go eat dirt for all I care the State Fair is not a place for guns.

[–] ThePantser@lemmy.world 10 points 3 months ago (1 children)

The public is not a place for guns. They should be kept at home to protect your home.

[–] School_Lunch@lemmy.world 10 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Though statistically, guns kept at home are more likely to be used in an accidental shooting or suicide than as protection from a home invasion.

[–] RadicallyBland@lemmy.world 8 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Gun nuts hate when you say this. But.. think about it, how likely is it someone is going to break into your house to hurt you? Pretty low. Now on top of the low chance that someone is going to break in, while you're home with the intent to hurt you, you also need to be able to access your gun and use it safely. Unless you're waiting on the couch with a loaded pistol when someone busts in the front door, that doesn't seem very likely. You're probably just going to kill your wife, kid or dog or neighbor. Someone breaks in and they've got the element of surprise, how the hell are you going to get to your (hopefully locked up and unloaded) gun in time? You've gotta run across your house with someone chasing you and unlock and load that gun, and then also use it successfully. You're not trained in close quarters pistol combat. You're not John Wick. You are going to be jittery from adrenaline, while someone is coming at you and you have seconds to react or they're on you and you're wrestling for that gun. On the other hand.. "would you rather be armed or unarmed if someone breaks in?" is an obvious answer it's just that so many people think they're gonna be a badass and that's not likely. What's more likely is that that gun that's sitting there every day all day is going to get used in domestic violence, suicide or an accident, or get stolen.

[–] TexMexBazooka@lemm.ee 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

This problem is the entire reason things like quick release safes exist

[–] GooseFinger@sh.itjust.works 0 points 3 months ago

Also, holsters are a thing

[–] Burninator05@lemmy.world 15 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Do the courts side with gun owners being able to take guns any and everywhere they want regardless of the site owners wishes? Or will they side with a private organization's right to deny customers service based on being part of an (elective) unprotected class?

It'll be interesting to see how this plays out and by interesting I mean not interesting at all because they'll 100% side with gun owners.

[–] BrianTheeBiscuiteer@lemmy.world 6 points 3 months ago

And even if this fair is organized by the government are Republicans going to fight to let people carry guns into the state Capitol?

[–] MushuChupacabra@lemmy.world 9 points 3 months ago (2 children)

I predict that the Republicans will succeed in overturning the ban. I also predict a slight uptick in State Fair shooting incidents.

[–] DragonTypeWyvern@midwest.social 9 points 3 months ago

I also predict it being somehow completely different from wanting to bring guns into other public places, like courthouses!

[–] Sam_Bass@lemmy.world 3 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

If it does become allowed. Mount a minigun on big tex and have it track patrons as they enter

[–] Sam_Bass@lemmy.world 6 points 3 months ago

We gotta can that evil bastard