For most people considering what they will do if things in America truly go to hell in a handbasket, most figure, we’ll just go to Texas, one of the last bastions of seeming common sense and traditional American values such as toughness, self-reliance and common sense. That’s certainly what hundreds of thousands of Californians did during the Covid pandemic when it was clear their state was going to total, taxable crap. Well, now maybe we need to think about that. Seems, Texas may be going the way of the rest of softer America is going, which it feels like it’s going to hell in a handbasket.
Few things have highlighted this more than the recent decision by the State Fair of Texas to prohibit firearms on its fairgrounds, a move that has ignited a fierce backlash from Texas House Republicans and gun rights advocates, who argue that the new policy compromises public safety and infringes upon the rights of law-abiding citizens. The fair’s decision, which comes in the wake of a shooting incident at last year’s event, has been met with widespread criticism and threats of legislative action.
Last week, State Fair officials, in collaboration with law enforcement, announced the updated policy banning all firearms, including those carried by licensed holders, from the fairgrounds. This decision marks a significant shift from previous years when licensed concealed carry was permitted at Fair Park. The new policy, which also includes the installation of weapons detection technology at entrances, aims to enhance security following last year’s shooting, in which three people were injured at the fair’s food court. (Always somebody who has to ruin it for the rest of us.)
However, the ban has been met with swift opposition from 71 Texas House Republicans and Republican House nominees, according to The Texas Tribune. The Republicans signed a petition urging the State Fair to reverse its decision. The petition argues that “gun-free zones are magnets for crime because they present less of a threat to those who seek to do evil,” and criticizes the fair’s new policy as being unrepresentative of Texas values. As many as 98 percent of all mass shootings occur in gun-free zones. The lawmakers warned that if the ban goes into effect, they would consider pursuing legislative measures to protect firearm rights on publicly managed lands.
The National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) has also raised concerns about the legality of the firearm ban, given that the City of Dallas owns Fair Park, where the State Fair is held. According to Texas law, firearms prohibitions on government property are tightly regulated, and wrongful exclusions by state agencies or political subdivisions could result in fines. The NRA-ILA’s statement questioned the fair’s authority to enforce such a ban on government-owned property, despite the State Fair being operated by a private not-for-profit organization.
Texas Gun Rights, a prominent advocacy group, echoed these concerns, with President Chris McNutt stating that “Gun-Free Zones don’t work” and that the fair’s decision is a “feel-good attempt” that does nothing to improve safety. The group has called on the State Fair to reconsider its policy, emphasizing that it undermines the rights of law-abiding gun owners while failing to deter criminal activity.
As the State Fair of Texas prepares to open on September 27 in Dallas, the controversy surrounding its new weapons policy continues to escalate. With both sides entrenched in their positions, the issue is likely to remain a contentious topic leading into the next legislative session, where the potential for new laws addressing firearm rights on public lands could, and should, take center stage.
Ok, lets dispel this ‘but we got lots of cops so that makes everyone safe’ BS. Its a falsehood. There are literally hundreds of examples, collectively, nation wide daily where even police officers within close proximity to a victim and hearing and seeing what was happening could still not react fast enough to prevent the victim from being injured.
‘we got lots of cops’ didn’t help out at Uvalde and all they had to do was open the door (which wasn’t actually locked). The ~ 200 law enforcement at the superbowl didn’t help those victims … and the list of cops being around but victims still happen goes on and on. Look, bad guys are not afraid of the cops any longer and those that want to do something will still do it no matter how many cops are around. At the shooting at the Texas State Fair previously, they had lots and lots of cops there too but not a one of them were able to stop the injured victims from being injured. And that’s the point, the cops are never there in that imminent moment to stop injury or death from happening, its just you and the bad guy in that moment and very few people have the skill or physical ability to actually overcome and stop an attack with just hand to hand combat.
For example : It takes, on average, ~ 2 seconds for an attacker with a knife to fatally stab a victim AFTER the victim is aware of the incoming attack, a police officer arriving 3 seconds later is too late as the injury already happened – that’s a few precious seconds pre-stab a victim could have used to defend their self from the incoming attack if they had a firearm. ‘but we got lots of cops so that makes everyone safe’ BS – It is an excuse, a falsehood. A victim is not safe if they were already injured or the crime committed before the cops arrived and the cops didn’t save them, the only one that can save you in that imminent moment is you and if you are disarmed by some policy or bureaucratic BS no matter how many cops you have at the fair you can’t save yourself or family from serious injury or death.
I can fully agree with this. 100% TRUE !!!
correction for : “The ~ 200 law enforcement at the superbowl didn’t help those victims…”
It was ~800 law enforcement, not ~200 law enforcement.
These days, I don’t care what the event is, it could be the Second Coming, but I’m NOT going to go where there are crowds. Especially if I’m told I can’t be armed. I go to grocery stores in the early morning and avoid doing any business in the closest city after noon, which necessitates getting up at dawn. From late afternoon to early morning, the closest city to me is a Bedlam of shootings, knifings, fights, drunk driving, road races, and all other sorts of mayhem, a large share of it instigated by, I’m gonna say it, NON-WHITES.
A State Fair? You want me to show up? Unarmed?? Not on your life. Or, especially, mine.
RIGHT ON !!!
Iowa State Fair is same as Tx.
So you have to pay a fare to a fair that isn’t being fair.
Fair point
I like the idea of gun detection tech at the gates. If you’re over 18 years old, and aren’t carrying a gun, you shouldn’t be allowed in. Errr, actually, change that to 13 years old. Everyone carries, or no entrance for you!
@Paul
That is completely ridiculous and unfair. Just add 10$ to the ticket price for any unarmed folks.
OK, make it 20$.
Scutage
ATF Returns Bump Stock After Five Years > https://bearingarms.com/tomknighton/2024/08/13/atf-returns-bump-stock-after-five-years-n1225905
Robberies, Shootings, and Stabbings Still Happening on NYC Subways Despite Rollout of Weapons Scanners > https://bearingarms.com/camedwards/2024/08/14/robberies-shootings-and-stabbings-still-happening-on-nyc-subways-despite-rollout-of-weapons-scanners-n1225924
We simply need a federal law that requires owners/directors/authorities having jurisdiction to carry liability insurance that will be immediately (within one week of filing) a damage payment of say $10,000 to each conceal carry citizen who was on the property during a violent felony. Imagine after say a shooting or robbery in a mall the ownership is approached by citizens identifying themselves as lawful conceal carry weapon citizens (constitutional carry might be a bit sticky) and they will provide information and the insurance will cover the 10K for each claim. Which will not interfere with any future damage payments. Oh and they don’t have to be endangered just on the property .
Imagine now a mall liability having to consider say 50 or 100 or more payments….ya think that might cause the insurance to rethink gun restrictions…Imagine further if we extend it to a city…say Neuevo Ork. suddenly the city starts paying millions a week for citizens who could not protect themselves.
The Texas gun myth is really just a pack of lies any way. I can name more than half a dozen states just off the top of my head that are more friendly to gun owners than Texas: Alaska, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Utah, Arizona, New Hampshire, …
I’ve been to exactly 1 State fair in ILLANNOY. 49 years ago. Not fun with the 1st wife & in-laws. Gunz weren’t on my mind then. Texans can vote with their $!
Bull&#!+
That’s Bull&#!+
JAMA Beclowns Itself Using Shoddy Data to Claim Deer Hunting Increases ‘Gun Violence’ > https://www.shootingnewsweekly.com/2024/08/14/jama-beclowns-itself-using-shoddy-data-to-claim-deer-hunting-increases-gun-violence/
Just hire Trump’s Secret Service to protect fair goers. All kidding aside the Dallas fairgrounds is very large, spread out and gives advantage to a crazy in a Gun Free Zone. If police are not in sight You better be armed…
https://youtube.com/watch?v=sdQgMl4slHU&feature=shared
Texas is no longer a “red” state; purple at best. ALL the major cities are run by Dimwitocrats, which is “where the votes are”. And Dallas is like a whole ‘nuther state. People moving to Texas f rom “blue” states refuse to assimilate (like most immigrants, everywhere), and bring destruction with them. Visited Texas three years ago, and don’t even want to change planes there.
This is a myth told by media so that the public will believe it when they softly cheat Texas blue.
While there are many refugees from other states most actually know why they are fleeing.
The late Shejack was actually under investigation by the Texas Rangers for being a part of it along with her husband.
“While there are many refugees from other states most actually know why they are fleeing.”
I’m sure they do.
So do the locals have a plan to assimilate them? If not, that could end badly.
“So do the locals have a plan to assimilate them? If not, that could end badly.”
In the big cities, they will be on familiar ground. For smaller cities, and rural towns, they will overwhelm the locals by granting voting rights to anyone who shows up.
Don’t go, let em go broke!
https://s.hdnux.com/photos/15/63/33/3618509/6/1200×0.jpg
Don’t these imbeciles that want to restrict lawful concealed carry permit holders does NOTHING to in crease safety. Don these idiots realize that criminals will never follow the law and continue to be armed and dangerous! A law is of NO VALUE if criminals don’t follow it, which is the definition of a criminal! Gawd leftist/liberals are incredibly stupid!
vote with your dollars, hit them where it hurts. Boycott the living shit out of them!!!
vote with your dollars
poor judgment
Last year’s shooting happened when concealed carry was legal, so there goes your theory about good guys with guns.
State fair is not a government event, its a self funded nonprofit, so they get to make the rules
Don’t like it? Make a pro-gun state fair. That’s his freedom and a free market wiork.
The State Fair of Texas is a not-for-profit organization that leases the fairgrounds from the government and operates the event. It is not a government event, and the State Fair has the right as the lessee of the property to operate the fair as they see fit. While I do not consider it wise it is their show, and they may do as they wish as the business. The State of Texas has always been VERY pro-business doing whatever business wants, just look at the electrical grid and power outage problems in Texas, also look at the cost of home ownership; Texans gripe it costs too much but when that California money comes in and offers cash $50k over asking price, Texans sure are happy to take that money! I find it funny that business gets to go its own way under Republican leadership until it does not do what Republican leadership wants, now its “you must do as the state says!”
“The State Fair of Texas is a not-for-profit organization that leases the fairgrounds from the government and operates the event. It is not a government event, and the State Fair has the right as the lessee of the property to operate the fair as they see fit.”
Leasing public property does not mean it is not still public property, leasing it did not transfer ownership from the ‘public’ to who ever is leasing it. ALL government property is still ‘public’ property.
They can operate the ‘fair function’ as they see fit, but they can not ‘operate’ the public property as they see fit because they do not actually own the property. It did not become ‘private property’ simply because they leased it for their event.
WHAT EVER ?
I GAVE UP GOING TO OVER CROWDED PLACE AND OVER PRICED AND TERRIBLE TRAFFC AND PARKING
IF CAN’T TAKE GUN ,PEPPER SPRAY
ISN’T THE REAL REASON YOU STOPPED GOING BECAUSE THEY WOULD NOT ALLOW YOU TO SCREAM AT PEOPLE?
No, it’s because they have senior citizens day, kids under 10 half-price day, ride your steer to the fair day, etc., etc., yet they don’t have an ” I believe in the 2nd – but…” day.
Ntex is theoriginl Tampon Tim “noone should be allowed to have my war gunz” Walls
Darn it, I wuz gonna go there and stand under the rollercoaster and score sum free gloks and magazines! I miss Possum.
Yes, he was only one of the latest to leave here with a moderate illness – as in ” fuck you I’m sick of your moderation bullshit “
Unless it’s a military reservation or a court house, I carry a gun wherever I go. I have a keltec p32, a beretta 21a, and a North American Arms Pug. All for deep carry when necessary.
And I train with all three out to 25 yards.
Interesting choices. Owning different pistols to fill different roles makes a lot of sense. You seem to own three narrowly specialized for the exact same niche.
The beretta 21A I inherited from my wife of 27 years when she passed away.
She was a “gun chick”. She also had a ruger p89. I shot them so much that she said once, that they were really more my guns than hers.
I have found that the “gun community” really pushes only a certain calibre and certain size of handgun. And the “gun community” really doesn’t understand what it means, for the practical carry of a handgun.
Most handguns are simply not meant for open or concealed carry in the 21st century. But you can certain try if you want to.
“push[ing] only a certain calibre and certain size of handgun” would seem to be the opposite of “different pistols to fill different roles makes a lot of sense.”
“Most handguns are simply not meant for open or concealed carry in the 21st century.”
The 21st century has seen an explosion of handguns made for open or (especially) concealed carry.
There are very few introductions (in any field) of truly new or unprecedented capability. When there are, they usually involve extreme tradeoffs. Most real progress involves minimizing the sacrifices required in one area to gain capability in another. My dad had a V8 pickup in the 70s, with single-digit MPG. My friend’s dad had a 30hmpg car, with low-double-digit horsepower. Today it is easy to get a 30hmpg car with more horsepower than Dad’s truck. Likewise for pistols.
Practical carry of a handgun for me means I carry a micro when I have to, and a hand-filling sidearm when I can.
If you believe you live in a gun friendly state???
You are very wrong. The enemy that F#cked up their own state. Will eventually come to yours. California’s and New Yorkers are like locusts. They move to Tennessee, Texas, Florida, Arizona, and other free states.
The atheist potheads have never believed in the Bill of Rights. They will work to take your civil rights away.
The price of liberty is an eternal vigilance.
Anytime you vote for somebody you need to check to see, where they were born and raised.
Direct quotation from about 40% of the population every year for the past 50 years:
“Nobody in their right mind would go to the Texas State Fair.”
Question for those who would complain about the end of the ban. Has any ban ever prevented those with evil or criminal intent from arming themselves?
Consider that robbery and murder has been prohibited for a very long time. Have those laws prevented a single violent act? if so show us the proof. Otherwise shut up and allow people to have the means and ability to defend themselves as they see fit.
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