ONLY AT 6. >> RIGHT NOW AT 6, PUBLIX IS DOING A ONE 80 ON THEIR DECISION TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO OPENLY CARRY GUNS IN THEIR FLORIDA STORES. THANK YOU FOR COUNTING ON GULF COAST NEWS. I’M PETER BUSCH AND I’M KELLIE BURNS. PUBLIX IS NOTIFYING ITS CUSTOMERS WITH THE SIGNS OUTSIDE STORES. >> SAYING THAT ONLY LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN OPENLY CARRY FIREARMS. WE SENT GULF COAST NEWS CHIEF POLITICAL REPORTER DAVE ELIAS TO GET REACTION. >> YOU MIGHT RECALL THAT WHEN FLORIDA BECAME AN OPEN STATE, PUBLIX WAS ONE OF THE FIRST AND FEW COMPANIES TO ALLOW THEIR CUSTOMERS OPENLY CARRY INSIDE THEIR STORES. BUT NOW THAT POLICY HAS CHANGED. AND CUSTOMERS I TALKED TO HAVE MIXED REACTIONS. BASICALLY, I DON’T FEEL SAFE WITHOUT. >> DECISION BECAUSE YOU NEED TO BE PROTECT AND THE STATE. THE ONLY RECENT WE CARRY THE GONE NOT TO INTIMIDATE NOT TO DO ANYTHING WRONG, ISSUES WILL BE PROTECTED AND THE FAMILIES, MANY CUSTOMERS LIKE JULIO GONZALEZ UPSET WITH THE SIGNS THAT ASKED THAT ONLY LAW ENFORCEMENT OPENLY CARRY IN PUBLIC STORES. I THINK IT’S OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO TO CARRY RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS. >> AND I THINK WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO CARRY OUR FIREARMS IN ANY PLACE, PERHAPS. BUT BUSINESSES HAVE THE LEGAL RIGHT TO DECIDE IF YOU CAN CONCEAL OR OPEN CARRY ON THEIR PRIVATE PROPERTY. OTTAWA, MY KIDS WALK AND WALKING AROUND THE STORE, SEEING PEOPLE BRANDISHING FIREARMS, YOU KNOW, TORTURED OVER AT ALL. SEE ISSUE WOULD BE IN PROTECTIVE. >> YOU KNOW, IT’S OUT OF YOURSELF, PUBLIX THAT DOESN’T SAY YOU CAN’T CONCEAL A GUN IN THEIR STORES. I DO SUGGEST THEY ARE ALLOWED. I AM A KIND AGAINST A BUT NOT EVERYONE SEES ELIMINATING OPEN CARRY HAS A SIGNIFICANT SHIFT IN THE COMPANY’S APPROACH TO FIRE HIM POLICIES AS LONG AS LIKE. >> SHARED SPACES ARE SAFE FOR EVERYBODY AND THEY’RE ABLE TO MAINTAIN SAFETY. I THINK IT’S GOOD. OTHER BIG STORES LIKE WAL-MART AND TARGET HAVE BANNED OPENLY CARRYING GUNS IN THEIR STORES, BE MINDFUL OF OTHER PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY. >> FOR SURE, THEY DID REACH OUT TO PUBLIX TO GET THEIR COMMENT ON WHY THEY CHANGED THEIR
Publix reverses course, again banning open carry of guns in Florida stores
Updated: 7:20 PM EDT May 6, 2026
Publix has reversed its policy on open carry firearms in Florida stores, now permitting only law enforcement officers to openly carry firearms while shopping. When Florida became an open carry state, Publix was one of the first companies to allow customers to openly carry firearms inside its stores. However, the policy has now changed, and customers have expressed mixed reactions. Julio Gonzalez of Cape Coral said, “Basically, I don’t feel safe with that decision. We need to protect, and that is the only reason we carry a gun, not to intimidate, not to do anything wrong, it’s just to protect the family.” James Vargas, also from Cape Coral, said, “I think it’s our constitutional right to be able to bear arms. I think we should be able to carry our firearms anyplace.” Businesses have the legal right to decide whether customers can conceal or openly carry firearms on their private property. Simon Aguilar of North Fort Myers said, “I don’t want my kids walking around a store seeing people brandishing firearms. Throw a shirt over it. I don’t see an issue with being protective of yourself.” Publix’s new policy does not prohibit customers from concealing firearms in their stores. Austin Mendez of North Fort Myers said, “I do suggest they stay protected and openly carry, you know.” Jay Hernandez of Cape Coral said, “As long as shared spaces are safe for everybody and they’re able to maintain safety, I think it’s good.” Other major retailers, including Walmart and Target, have also banned openly carrying firearms in their stores. Aguilar added, “Be mindful of other people in the community for sure.” Publix has not yet responded to inquiries about what prompted the change in its policy.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
NORTH FORT MYERS, Fla. —
Publix has reversed its policy on open carry firearms in Florida stores, now permitting only law enforcement officers to openly carry firearms while shopping.
When Florida became an open carry state, Publix was one of the first companies to allow customers to openly carry firearms inside its stores. However, the policy has now changed, and customers have expressed mixed reactions.
Julio Gonzalez of Cape Coral said, “Basically, I don’t feel safe with that decision. We need to protect, and that is the only reason we carry a gun, not to intimidate, not to do anything wrong, it’s just to protect the family.”
James Vargas, also from Cape Coral, said, “I think it’s our constitutional right to be able to bear arms. I think we should be able to carry our firearms anyplace.”
Businesses have the legal right to decide whether customers can conceal or openly carry firearms on their private property. Simon Aguilar of North Fort Myers said, “I don’t want my kids walking around a store seeing people brandishing firearms. Throw a shirt over it. I don’t see an issue with being protective of yourself.”
Publix’s new policy does not prohibit customers from concealing firearms in their stores. Austin Mendez of North Fort Myers said, “I do suggest they stay protected and openly carry, you know.”
Jay Hernandez of Cape Coral said, “As long as shared spaces are safe for everybody and they’re able to maintain safety, I think it’s good.”
Other major retailers, including Walmart and Target, have also banned openly carrying firearms in their stores. Aguilar added, “Be mindful of other people in the community for sure.”
Publix has not yet responded to inquiries about what prompted the change in its policy.
DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.