{"id":23528,"date":"2025-10-28T10:34:11","date_gmt":"2025-10-28T10:34:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/23528\/"},"modified":"2025-10-28T10:34:11","modified_gmt":"2025-10-28T10:34:11","slug":"change-org-petition-urges-publix-to-ban-guns-inside-florida-stores","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/23528\/","title":{"rendered":"Change.org petition urges Publix to ban guns inside Florida stores"},"content":{"rendered":"

A petition on Change.org<\/a> is calling on the Lakeland-based Publix Super Markets<\/a> grocery chain to reverse its decision to allow customers to openly carry firearms<\/a> inside its Florida stores.<\/p>\n

The petition, created earlier in October, is titled \u201cTell Publix: Reverse Open Carry Policy in Florida Stores.\u201d As of Oct. 27, it had over 8,000 verified signatures.<\/p>\n

Shoppers \u201cmay be forced to walk down aisles beside strangers openly carrying pistols or rifles, not knowing whether they\u2019re trained, stable, or even legally allowed to possess those weapons,\u201d it says. \u201cFor families, children, and survivors of gun violence, this change isn’t just alarming \u2013 it can be deeply traumatic.\u201d<\/p>\n

Publix recently confirmed that it will comply with Florida\u2019s new legal framework allowing the open carry of firearms.<\/p>\n

Its decision follows a September ruling by the state’s 1st District Court of Appeal<\/a> that struck down the state\u2019s decades-old ban on open carry, declaring it unconstitutional. Private businesses can still choose to prohibit firearms on their premises, however.<\/p>\n

In a statement<\/a>, Publix said that it expects customers to behave responsibly inside its stores.<\/p>\n

“Treating customers with dignity and respect is a founding belief at Publix, and we follow federal, state and local laws,” it said. “As is true for many issues which arise every day, Publix leaves it to the discretion of store managers to determine if a customer is creating a threatening, erratic or dangerous shopping experience \u2013 whether they are openly carrying a firearm or not \u2013 and engage local law enforcement to protect our customers and associates.”<\/p>\n

The petition’s starter is listed as \u201cCommunity Petition,\u201d usually meaning it was created by a person or group that wishes to remain anonymous, using Change.org\u2019s community feature. The organizers ask Publix CEO Kevin Murphy and the company\u2019s board to \u201creverse this dangerous decision and reinstate a ban on open carry inside all Florida stores.\u201d<\/p>\n

The signature-gathering campaign also points out that another grocery chain, Winn-Dixie, continues to prohibit open carry in its Florida locations. “This isn\u2019t a political issue. It\u2019s a question of whether our grocery stores remain places of safety, not danger,” the petition says.<\/p>\n

Eric Friday, general counsel for the pro-gun Florida Carry group, has previously said he was not surprised about Publix’s decision, saying concealed carry has been legal in Florida since 1987.\u00a0\u201cWhy is it now all of a sudden an issue, when before they couldn\u2019t see the gun?\u201d he told the USA TODAY NETWORK \u2013 Florida<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Construction<\/p>\n

Construction of a new Publix store continues at Havendale Boulevard and Jersey Road between Winter Haven and Auburndale on Oct. 8, 2025.<\/p>\n

Not surprisingly, those who posted comments on the petition see it differently.<\/p>\n

“Guns don\u2019t belong in grocery stores where families shop with their children,” one person wrote. “I won\u2019t feel safe and will be looking for other places to get my groceries if open carry is allowed.”<\/p>\n

Another posted: “There is NO NEED for guns in grocery stores! I did shop at Publix with my granddaughter, but no longer. Her parents won\u2019t be shopping with her there as well.<\/p>\n

“I will be transferring my prescriptions to another pharmacy. My daughter plans to do the same. This country must take a stand AGAINST guns!”<\/p>\n

This story contains previously published reporting.\u00a0Jim Rosica\u00a0is a member of the USA TODAY NETWORK \u2013\u00a0Florida Capital Bureau. Reach him at\u00a0jrosica@tallahassee.com<\/a>\u00a0and follow him on Twitter\/X:\u00a0@<\/a>JimRosicaFL<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Change.org petition demands Publix stop open carry in stores<\/a><\/p>\n