Florida’s largest grocery store chain has announced it now allows shoppers to openly carry guns at its locations.
Publix will follow the state’s procedures with its open-carry policy, which went into effect on Sept. 25.
On Sept. 10, a District Court of Appeal panel overturned a 1987 law that made it a misdemeanour to visibly display guns, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said. But Uthmeier said the ruling permits private business owners to “compel individuals carrying firearms to leave their premises.”
A Publix spokesperson told the South Florida Sun Sentinel that the retail chain “follows all federal, state and local laws.
“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,” they said.
Publix boasts more than 900 stores in the state and all confirmed they have opted to allow it, the outlet reported.
Another grocery chain, Winn-Dixie, said in a statement to the Sun Sentinel that it will continue to prohibit open carry in its Florida stores despite the recent ruling.
“Our priority is creating a safe and welcoming shopping experience for all customers and associates,” parent company Southeastern Grocers said.
“As a private business, our policy remains unchanged: We do not permit open carry of firearms inside our stores. We respectfully ask customers to secure firearms safely before entering and we appreciate the continued co-operation that helps us maintain an environment where everyone feels comfortable.”
Walmart, which owns Sam’s Club, said in a statement that they have asked customers to refrain bringing firearms into their stores — but wouldn’t stop anyone openly carrying one from entry.
“Our statement said we ask customers to refrain from bringing firearms into our stores; we did not say we were prohibiting them,” Walmart said.
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Another grocery chain, Aldi, had a similar statement to Walmart: “We are asking that our customers refrain from openly displaying firearms in any of our stores, except for authorized law enforcement personnel.”
However, they do authorize concealed carrying, the Florida Times-Union reported.
Trader Joe’s officials said in 2019 that they follow local laws, but noted their stores “do not welcome weapons of any kind in our stores and never have.”
Since 2014, Target has requested that guests “not bring firearms” into its stores — “even in communities where it is permitted by law,” according to the Times-Union.
Costco, meanwhile, has a no-gun policy at its warehouses — whether it’s open and/or concealed carry.