Paxton Sues City of Dallas Over Gun Ban on Public Property

Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) has filed two lawsuits against the City of Dallas, accusing the city of violating state law by banning licensed handgun holders from carrying firearms into two major public venues: the Music Hall at Fair Park and The Majestic Theatre.

According to the attorney general, both venues are leased by the City of Dallas through its Office of Cultural Affairs, which makes them public properties subject to Texas laws that protect licensed individuals’ rights to carry firearms. Attorney General Paxton argues that the city has no legal authority to prohibit handguns in these spaces.

“The law is clear,” Attorney General Paxton argued in a press release. “Cities like Dallas have no authority to override state statutes that enable license holders to lawfully carry their handguns and protect themselves from potential threats.” “I will always do everything in my power to defend Texans’ gun rights from cities that would strip us of our legal rights,” he vowed.

The lawsuits allege that not only did the City of Dallas unlawfully restrict access for license holders, but it also issued threats of arrest against citizens seeking to exercise their Second Amendment rights.

This is not the first time Attorney General Paxton has taken legal action against Dallas on the issue of gun rights. In 2024, he sued the city over similar alleged violations during the Texas State Fair, where signs prohibiting handguns were posted at entrances to the fairgrounds.

Texas law prohibits local governments from creating regulations that conflict with statewide laws on handgun licensing and possession. Attorney General Paxton maintains that Dallas’ actions constitute a “blatant violation” of that principle.

The City of Dallas has not publicly responded to the lawsuits.