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Posted on 10/14/2025 4:30:01 AM PDT by MtnClimber
When CBS Miami reported that Publix will allow open carry in its Florida stores, the headline said the decision had “mixed reactions.” The phrase has become shorthand for a nation divided by trust. In this case, do we trust law-abiding citizens or prefer the illusion of safety that comes from disarming them?
Publix, and the family who founded it, have long been associated with conservative causes, and in this case have taken a stand for trust: trusting its customers with the freedom that state law already grants them. It recognizes what many Americans still believe: Freedom isn’t something a corporation gives or withholds; it’s a right that responsible citizens exercise.
Publix issued a statement on the move:
“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.”
Shopper Erica McKeon noted that seeing someone with a holstered firearm makes another person uncomfortable, they can simply avoid them:
“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. At least I can walk away from the person if I see a gun and I'm not comfortable. ... I support our governor [Republican Ron DeSantis] and I believe that if he's allowing this that he has our best interests in mind.”
That’s how freedom works: You make your own choices without demanding that others surrender their rights to ease your discomfort.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
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The only people complaining about this seem to be the news media.
When I lived in Florida, Publix closed on Sundays.
A number of years ago, before open carry was legal in Florida, my wife and I were in Publix, a guy in the 65-70 year age group, was walking around in tennis shorts with his shirt tucked in his shorts, he was obviously carrying because the grip of his pistol was clear visible above the beltline of his shorts, which at the time was illegal.
As a concealed carrier myself, I was tempted to go up to him and warn him to conceal his firearm because at that particular moment he as carrying illegally.
Personally, I won’t be open carrying, I think it brings attention to yourself and I don’t want anyone else to know I’m carrying.
“Personally, I won’t be open carrying, I think it brings attention to yourself and I don’t want anyone else to know I’m carrying.”
I agree. A man in the checkout line at Walmart “printed” and the fat, black woman behind him screamed, “He gots a gun! He gots a gun!” A nearby cop raced over, gun drawn. The man put his hands up. This drew all kinds of attention, and the man, with a carry license, was ordered to leave. The woman looked smug like she’d done something wonderful. She could have gotten people killed.
The world is full of attention whores like her.
I bought a “Sneaky Pete” holster. It drew so much attention that I only wore it once. I’m down to a S&W .380 Bodyguard as I can carry it in in a sleeve in my pocket and it mostly doesn’t show.
I carry a 38 revolver, I can carry it in a pocket of my pants for shorts, which have cargo type pockets.
I’ve also carried with an IWB holster, I usually wear a loose-fitting shirt so there is little to no chance of printing.
“Printing” is not a crime in Florida!
Bad guys will hear about this and decide Publix is not the place to carry out their next crime.
What is “printing“ in this context? From the context it seems like it’s not showing the weapon directly, but letting its outline show through your clothes. Is that it?
“Personally, I won’t be open carrying, I think it brings attention to yourself and I don’t want anyone else to know I’m carrying.”
Agreed 100%. Those that open carry in public are inviting all sorts of problems. Concealed carry is the only way to go.
It’s also nice to live in a red state, where open carry is not that big of a deal. A couple years ago we were at a camp grounds in SD where this guy was cleaning his 1911 on the picnic table. Then he brought out his AR15. No one cared.
A clueless by-stander's perspective.
From a sheep dog perspective, open carry is dumb.
” I’m down to a S&W .380 Bodyguard as I can carry it in in a sleeve in my pocket”
Great men think alike!
Or a bold bad guy might go there watching for some knucklehead carrying in a non-level 2 or 3 retention holster, to acquire his next throwdown firearm.
That’s the way I would define it, showing a gun when you don’t want it shown, if you are carrying concealed, ideally you don’t want someone to see the gun you are carrying concealed.
I would not care if others want to open carry, since it’s brand new in Florida there will be a bunch “Karens” who will freak out seeing a gun in public, even though they pass by people every day who are carrying a weapon.
It wasn't until about 2001 when Mich became a "shall issue" state did it finally come to light.
In fact, I think I've only seen maybe 3 people openly carry in the past number of years.
Wish I was a legislator. I’d propose the following:
Any business, local government, or other entity who bans a law abiding citizen from carrying a firearm and someone is injured or killed in their establishment with no effective means of defense shall be subject to $1B in statutory damages.
Is $1B too low or too high?
Well put.
All of Az has been doing it for decades. No one has noticed any difference with their shopping experience.
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