Don’t Be Surprised If You See Folks Packing Heat at Publix
A Publix grocery store is seen Aug. 9, 2023, in Neptune Beach, Florida. (AP Photo/Mark Long, File)
Publix shoppers in Florida may soon notice more than weekly deals in the aisles. The supermarket chain announced it will now permit customers to openly carry firearms inside its Florida locations, following a recent appeals court decision that struck down the state’s long-standing open carry ban, according to CBS News.
The change has sparked a range of reactions among shoppers. Some view it as a step toward transparency and the exercise of Second Amendment rights, while others worry it could raise safety concerns or unease among families and employees.
“Publix has always felt like a warm, family-friendly place,” one Tampa customer told WFLA. “It’s unsettling to think of someone walking past the produce section with a gun on their hip.”
Others welcome the move. “At least now I can see who’s carrying,” another shopper told CBS. “That gives me a choice to keep my distance if I’m not comfortable.”
A Publix spokesperson said the company intends to comply fully with state law and will take action if any customer—armed or not—creates a threat or disturbance. Publix operates more than 1,400 stores across eight Southern states. It remains unclear whether open carry will extend to locations outside Florida, though most of those states already allow some form of it.
Meanwhile, rival grocer Winn-Dixie says it will maintain its ban on open carry in Florida stores. Other major retailers, including Target, Walmart, and Costco, have also asked customers not to bring firearms into their establishments.
The decision comes amid ongoing debates about gun rights and public safety—issues that continue to shape conversations nationwide under President Trump’s administration.
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