Posted on 05/08/2026 1:34:03 PM PDT by MtnClimber
Months after allowing customers to openly carry guns, Publix has changed its open carry firearm policy at all Florida stores.
Publix changes its open carry firearm policy in Florida stores, permitting only law enforcement officers to openly carry guns while shopping. Photo by Nicole Lopez-Alvar
Publix, the Florida-born grocer with locations across Miami-Dade and Broward counties, appears to have quietly reversed its open-carry policy. No announcement, no press release. Just a new stance rolling out Tuesday through customer service reps and its own chatbot.
The news arrives one day after Publix dropped to fourth on America’s most trusted grocer ranking, behind Whole Foods, Kroger, and QuikTrip.
The Tampa Bay Times was the first to flag the change, and Orlando’s News 6 confirmed it after reaching a customer service representative who explained that new guidance had been issued: only law enforcement would be permitted to openly carry firearms inside Publix stores. The company’s online chatbot backed that up.
“Publix kindly asks that only law enforcement openly carry firearms in our stores,” it reads.
How It Got Here
Publix originally aligned with Florida’s open carry law when it took effect in September 2025, following a landmark court ruling that found the prior prohibition violated the Second Amendment.
The company’s position at the time was that it followed all federal, state, and local laws and would engage law enforcement if any customer created a threatening or dangerous shopping experience, “whether they are openly carrying a firearm or not.” That was eight months ago.
The policy is apparently different now....SNIP
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Only open carry, not concealed carry. They must have had too many problems with Karens. I concealed carry anyway and I have never had a Karen spot me.
Asked. Not prohibited?
Asked. Not prohibited?
Very similar to the Walmart policy. No force of law.
I noticed the signs a few weeks ago at our local Publix. started seeing a lot of new york, new jersey, and massachusetts plates around here too. fwiw I’m in central Alabama.
Yep I noticed that too. So they can tell the karens we ask them not to carry. Hoping that shuts them up.
It just happened yesterday so it is too soon to tell. I don't open carry anyway, even though it is legal in Florida. It just gives the bad guys advanced warning to adjust their tactics. And if they want to steal a gun it makes you a target and you may not know until too late.
...or don’t use a urinal...
Publix probably changed policy just to shut up the unbearable bitching from repulsive transplanted Northeast democrat filth ...mostly hags.
I am sure that is why they decided to reverse their decision. Notice they only cited open carry.
Incidentally, I was across the street taking money out of a Sun Bank ATM to go shopping at Publix in 1987 in Palm Bay, FL when William Cruse went on his mass murder shooting spree. I was only a few hundred yards away and minutes from being there myself. I had a gun in my car glove compartment. The CCW law passed in Florida, also in 1987. I don't know if before or after the shooting, but I did not have a CCW permit. This event shocked me into getting a CCW permit and I have had one ever since.
Roger that! Concealed means that but if I’ve just been out shooting and not unstrapped and needing a quart of milk...... 😊👍
Well CC has never been a problem.
You are able to shop at Walmart or Publix at their pleasure. You have no right to be there.
Since it's private property, they can legally ask you to leave. They don't have to give a reason.
If you refuse, they can call the police and have you trespassed.
If you still refuse to leave, or return after having been trespassed, you can be arrested.
Just curious…do you know the stats on how many open carriers have been jumped and lost their firearm? I don’t know, but I have the sense it’s not a high number.
OC makes one a target of a nefarious shooter, but CC has an element of surprise - boom!
Of course Publix or Walmart can ask you to leave. The signs do not do that.
They request you do not open carry. So, when I go into Walmart, I untuck my shirt if it is tucked. Sometimes I have forgotten to do so.
No one has ever asked me to leave. When I see other open carriers, which is not common, I ask them if they have been confronted. As I recall none have said they have been asked to leave. The numbers are small, perhaps half a dozen. Still, it is an indication the policy is to politely ask people not to open carry, not a prohibition on open carry.
In effect, it gives the management a means to ask someone who is acting irresponsibly, to leave. They have always had the ability to do that, whether the sign was there or not.
I used to keep track of such incidents. I do not recall one recently.
As I recall, there were about 4-5 of them over decades.
There were just as many concealed carrier who were disarmed because their attacker surprised them, thinking they were unarmed. The attacker found the concealed weapon and took it. On one occasion, the person thought their firearm was concealed when it was not. He chased the person who took the firearm and was killed.
In a couple of others, the firearm was poorly concealed, so was that open or concealed carry?
Situational awareness is far more important than whether you conceal or open carry.
I agree…and that’s my point. Many people say they won’t open carry because it gives a way tactically advantage (maybe) and provides an opportunity for someone to take your firearm (the stats don’t support that.
I, as a private property owner, also ask you to not open carry when visiting my home.
Do you have a right to enter my home while open carrying despite my requests?
In effect, it gives the management a means to ask someone who is acting irresponsibly, to leave. They have always had the ability to do that, whether the sign was there or not.
Duh! As the owner of a private property, I don't need to give you a reason to tell you to leave regardless of whether there's a sign or not.
What part of 'trespassing' is so confusing?
In the case of Walmart & Publix, they are announcing that they, as the owners of the private property, will not tolerate open carry.
Either you respect private property rights, or you're a hard-core socialist who believes that everyone owns everything and you can do as you want.
Which is it?
” They must have had too many problems with Karens. “
Exactly. It makes them feels ‘unsafe’. I saw a guy open carrying here in Longmont at King Soopers. I just followed him around watching the faces.
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