Shoppers are split after supermarket chain Publix announced it will now allow customers to openly carry firearms inside its Florida stores.
The decision comes about two weeks after an appeals court ruling overturned the state’s ban on open carry.
Under the law, businesses and private property owners can choose whether to allow or ban open carry on their premises.
They say it’s “where shopping is a pleasure,” but now, customers may see fellow shoppers walking the aisles with a pistol on their hip at their neighborhood Publix.
Some Publix customers support the move, others express safety concerns
“I believe it can cause unnecessary stress and drama,” Publix customer Scott Gonzalez said. “It needs to stop being political and it needs to be more about the safety of our community.”
Some shoppers say the change gives them a sense of awareness and control.
“I feel like if you’re going to carry a gun, I’d rather know that it’s on your person than be caught off guard and have it brought out without me even being aware,” customer Erica McKeon told CBS News Miami. “At least I can walk away from the person if I see a gun and I’m not comfortable.”
Others worry the sight of firearms in stores could cause anxiety.
“As someone that has a concealed carry permit, I’m not that against open carry,” customer Dominic Carissimi said. “But in terms of other people that aren’t used to being around guns and things like that, it can cause unnecessary, like, I guess, stress and anxiety.”
McKeon added, “I support our governor and I believe that if he’s allowing this that he has our best interests in mind.”
Publix cites compliance with Florida law and respect for customers
A Publix spokesperson released a statement, saying in part:
“Publix follows all federal, state and local laws. Treating customers with dignity and respect is a founding belief at Publix. In any instance where a customer creates a threatening, erratic, or dangerous shopping experience—whether they are openly carrying a firearm or not—we will engage local law enforcement to protect our customers and associates.”
Publix runs stores in eight states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
The grocery chain has more than 1,421 supermarket locations in those states, and over 900 location in Florida.
Open carry laws in other states where Publix operates
Several of the states where Publix operates already allowed some form of open carry, even before Florida’s recent policy change.
In Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia, gun owners can generally carry firearms openly without a permit, though each state has its own set of restrictions.
Alabama, Georgia and Kentucky all have so-called “permitless carry” laws, which allow most adults legally allowed to possess a firearm to carry it openly or concealed.
North Carolina and Tennessee also permit open carry, while South Carolina’s legislature recently joined that group by passing a law allowing people to carry handguns openly without a permit.
Virginia also allows open carry, though its rules are more restrictive than most of its southern neighbors. Local governments there can prohibit firearms in certain public areas, and restrictions apply to specific types of guns, including semi-automatic weapons in some localities.
In all, that means nearly every state on Publix’s operating map already permitted open carry in some form.
It is unclear if the grocery chain allows open carry in its stores in other states beside Florida. In 2019, Publix’s publicly stated that it “respectfully requests that only law enforcement officials openly carry firearms in our stores,” even in states where open carry is legally allowed.
Winn-Dixie takes a different stance on Florida open carry
While Publix is allowing open carry, competitors like Winn-Dixie say they will not permit customers to openly carry firearms inside their stores.
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