AUSTIN, Texas — Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a statement after a decision was made Thursday by the Travis County District Court that the city of Austin violated Texas law when it refused to allow duly-licensed residents to lawfully carry firearms in City Hall.
“The district court’s ruling preserves and protects the Second Amendment rights of Texans and sends a strong message to the city of Austin that they are bound by the same laws as all other Texans," stated Attorney General Paxton. "The city of Austin cannot violate the open carry law or any other law the Texas Legislature has enacted simply because they disagree with it. If the city of Austin appeals the district court’s decision, my office will continue to strongly defend the right of law-abiding Texans to keep and bear arms in accordance with our handgun laws.”
A lawsuit was filed by Attorney General Paxton in July of 2016 against the city when a resident with a concealed gun permit mentioned he had been turned away from City Hall on several occasions.
On Thursday, the Travis County District Court stated they agreed with the attorney general's office regarding the fact the city of Austin violated the open carry law and should be fined each day the city prevented the attorney general's investigators from carrying their weapons.
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The total fine to the city of Austin is $9,000. The total comes from six incidents, each carrying a penalty of $1,500.
A trial was held in Travis County District Court earlier this month, where the legal team for Attorney General Paxton's office argued Texas law prohibits the city of Austin from restricting citizens, who legally conceal carry weapons, at Austin City Hall.