Dallas Resident Challenges County’s No-Gun Policy

In September 2015, a little-noticed measure went into effect in Texas. The law stated that when uncooperative governments post signs to ban citizens from carrying guns where it is legal, they are breaking the law and infringing upon Second Amendment rights. 

There have since been nearly 60 complaints filed under that law. One of those included a Dallas resident who, in January, contested that the Dallas County Government Center’s building-wide ban on guns was illegal. County officials argued otherwise, claiming that because the building houses a justice of the peace and truancy courts that a ban was justified. The challenger pointed out that the center also features non-court offices. 

Last week, a decision was rendered by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who ordered the “no guns” signs to be removed. He concluded that a reviewing court “would likely conclude the country abused its discretion.” Score one for the Second Amendment.