State Fair of Texas defends new gun ban for this season

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The State Fair of Texas said it plans to keep in place this year's ban on guns on fairgrounds property -- despite some politicians calling to rescind the decision, the State Fair said in a statement.

The fair announced its new safety plan last week, which includes those with a valid license to carry, as reported by NBC DFW. This means that no guns nor weapons of any kind will be allowed in the fairgrounds.

This comes following a shooting at the fair last year that injured three people. According to The Texas Tribune, dozens of Texas House Republicans signed a petition claiming the new policy makes the fair less safe by presenting less of a threat to anyone with bad intentions.

Fair officials said in Tuesday's statement that it remains a private, nonprofit organization -- and the board of directors made this decision. Furthermore, the fair adopted a policy similar to most mass community gathering events across the state and nation.

"We take the safety of the State Fair very seriously and will continue to do so," the statement said.

The statement also said that more than 200 uniformed and Dallas Police Department officers will patrol the fairgrounds when gates are open.