A Florida supermarket chain has walked back its previous policy allowing shoppers to openly carry guns in its stores.
Publix, which operates more than 1,400 stores across the Southeast, has reversed its previous policy, which followed a state appeals court ruling that found Florida’s longstanding ban on open carry unconstitutional. Publix was among only a small number of grocery chains that permitted customers to openly carry firearms in their stores.
Despite the previous stand, the stores now tote a new sign showing the policy has shifted, telling customers, “Publix kindly asks that only law enforcement openly carry firearms in our stores.”
The same information appears on Publix’s customer service FAQ page, though there is no official word from the chain about why the change was made.
“Even in states with broad firearm protections, private businesses still generally have the right to set rules for conduct inside their stores,” former Florida Circuit Court Judge Tarlika Nunez-Navarro told the New York Post. “So legally, Publix can ask customers not to openly carry firearms on its property, even if certain forms of firearm possession may otherwise be lawful under Florida law.”
“What makes these situations legally interesting is that businesses are trying to balance two different rights at the same time — firearm rights on one hand and private property rights on the other,” she added. “Courts have long recognized that businesses can establish policies they believe are necessary for safety and operations inside their own stores.”
There was plenty of pushback when Publix announced it would allow open carry in its stores, and the chain defended its policy at the time.
“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,” the grocery chain said in a statement to the New York Times in October.
The latest move has ignited another debate on social media, where X users reacted to the updated rule.
I mean, they aren’t saying don’t carry, just open carry. For a private business, I’m not sure I see an issue.
Open carry or not, I can’t afford Publix anymore. It’s crazy sad.
— Barbara Albers (@BarbaraAlbers11) May 13, 2026
You can still conceal carry. The sign references open carry.
— MagaWoof2 (@MagaWoof2) May 13, 2026
Regardless, I will open carry. If my shirt happens to be down over my gun it won’t make it “disappear” to save someone’s feelings from being hurt. The amount of cowardice people in this country is appalling.
— Shaxx-3:16 (@shaxx316) May 13, 2026
That sign implies it is okay to conceal carry in the store, but you can not open carry, as allowed by recent a State Supreme Court Ruling. I have yet to see anyone in five major FL cities openly carry. Re-think your gut reaction. Publix are the good guys.
— Kevin Rainville (@kevin_rainville) May 12, 2026
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.
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