Floridians buying groceries and other household items will be able to openly carry firearms while walking the aisles at Publix, the largest supermarket chain in the state, the company said on Thursday.
The news came about two weeks after a state appeals court ruled that a Florida ban on people openly carrying firearms was unconstitutional. The Sept. 10 decision from the First District Court of Appeal in Tallahassee overturned restrictions in effect since 1987.
In response to an inquiry about the ruling, Publix said in statement on Thursday that the company complies with state law, including the open-carry decision that took effect last month.
“As of Sept. 25, 2025, Florida law allows the open carry of firearms,’ according to the statement. “Publix follows all federal, state and local laws.”
“Treating customers with dignity and respect is a founding belief at Publix,” it continued. “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.”
A spokeswoman for Publix did not elaborate beyond the statement.
In a social media post after the ruling last month, James Uthmeier, the state’s new attorney general, cited the court ruling in saying that open carry was now “the law of the state.”
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The post Customers May Openly Carry Firearms in Florida’s Publix Stores, Company Says appeared first on New York Times.
