Technically it isn't open to the general public. You can't just waltz in and out at your leisure. You must purchase a ticket to get in. In purchasing a ticket, you agree to the terms and conditions of the ticket.
This is correct. I can't believe people are making an issue of this. We may think it's a bad policy decision for the people who run the fair to prohibit guns, but it IS a private enterprise and thus is entirely within their locus of control - legally speaking, and from a common sense angle as well. Respecting rights means you have to respect the right even when it is used in a manner you disagree with. I respect the 1st amendment. That means I respect the right of people to engage in even the most aborrent speech - such as holocaust denial (illegal in many countries to include Canada and much of Europe). I respect property rights, which means I respect the right of private property owners to prohibit guns.
There have been several posts here that have made it rather inarguable that the fair is a private enterprise, not in any way public. People are harping on irrelevant details, like the name "Washington State Fair" etc. which does not magickally turn a private enterprise into a public one. Even private enterprises, like grocery stores etc. can prohibit guns and they ARE open to the public as invitees/licensees etc. no ticket required. In the case of the fair, it is not just wide open to the general public as the above poster correctly notes - one must purchase a ticket (except for certain hours during the first day of the fair -when it's free. My wife took advantage of that, but I digress), and that's a business transaction where the purchaser of the ticket has the responsibility imo to do his own due diligence and read the rules regarding behavior at the fair BEFORE one purchases the ticket.
There was an incident a while back where a cop went into the Red and Black Cafe in Portland. He bought a cup of coffee. He was chatting with a blogger who was thanking him for his service
http://www.corneliaseigneur.com/where-does-a-police-officer-go-for-a-cup-of-coffee/
When the owner of the store came up and told him to leave.
What did he do?
http://www.portlandmercury.com/Blog...urant-throws-out-cop-after-serving-him-coffee
He left. No muss, no fuss. Cops would certainly be within their rights to engage in free speech (while off duty) to criticize the store owner's decision, to call for a boycott, or to engage in other legal political speech in protest, as is the right of any person who disagree with that policy. But it IS private property and the owner does have the right to prohibit cops from entering (apparently no such sign existed) or to tell them to leave upon their entering and/or after they bought a cup. (note: except for limited circumstances and certain business types (such as bars - they can't prohibit cops from entering, because cops have the right under the law to inspect a bar's taps, server licenses, etc. just like the liquor control board agents do, under the law, without any requirement for reasonable suspicion and are authorized to do so at any time said liquor establishment is open. Any interference with that is going to lead to an obstruction charge
http://w201.lcb.wa.gov/enforcement/enforcementQA.asp ))
I respect that property owner's RIGHT to make that decision, to enforce that (apparently unwritten) policy, even though I disagree WITH the decision/policy, just like I respect the RIGHT of the people running the fair to prohibit firearms.
We can discuss all we like whether it's a bad policy, but I don't see any valid argument that the fair management is exceeding their lawful authority, as a private enterprise, to set rules as to what items are prohibited on fair grounds.
I went to 'thefair.com" and pressed the button for the search button. I entered "firearms" and this link popped up
http://www.thefair.com/_assets/9056F2B93E8D029C85128BB80019A2E3/2008FallFactSheet.pdf
You don't even have to click on the link to see the following blurb below it: RESTRICTED PRODUCTS: Animals, balloons, backpacks, drug paraphernalia, firearms, knives, laser pointing devices, ...
If we want people to respect OUR right to carry firearms openly or concealed, in public places, we need to respect a private property owner's right (however unwise) to prohibit our carry of firearms on THEIR private property