Florida Publix allows open carry after court ruling

The Publix supermarket chain, considered the largest in the state of Florida, confirmed that it will allow the open carrying of firearms in its stores after a state court declared unconstitutional the law prohibiting this practice.

The decision marks a profound shift in the state’s public safety policy and has generated divided reactions among gun rights advocates and groups warning of a potential increase in violent incidents.

Guns can now be carried into Publix stores in Florida

Publix has confirmed it will allow customers to openly carry firearms inside its Florida stores, following a court ruling that struck down the state’s long-standing open carry ban. https://t.co/RAJYuUnmic

– WSVN 7 News (@wsvn) October 8, 2025

The ruling comes from Florida’s First District Court of Appeal, which on September 10, 2025, found unconstitutional the state’s open carry law.

Following the expiration of the 15-day appeal deadline on September 25, the measure automatically went into effect, allowing residents to legally display their weapons in public spaces, provided they have a valid license.

In a statement sent to EFE, Maria Brous, Publix Communications Director, explained:

“As of September 25, 2025, Florida law permits the open carry of firearms. Publix complies with all federal, state and local laws.”

What it means for consumers

The decision means that customers with valid permits will be able to enter Publix supermarkets armed and with their guns visible.

However, the measure does not oblige private companies to accept open carriage, so each establishment may decide to restrict it on its properties.

In fact, the Florida Sheriffs’ Association reminded that open carry is still prohibited in sensitive locations such as schools, airports, bars, courthouses, government buildings, police stations and alcohol outlets.

In the private sphere, stores, restaurants or shopping malls may request that customers not carry visible weapons, and authorities recommend that business owners post clear signage if they wish to keep their spaces free of weapons.

Political and social reactions

Democratic Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith was one of the most critical voices of the new regulations and Publix’s decision.

“For years, we opposed open carry along with sheriffs and most Floridians. But Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed ultra-conservative judges and an unelected attorney general who refused to defend our laws. This is the result, and it doesn’t make us safer,” he wrote in X.

The ruling is supported by state Attorney General James Uthmeier, who argued that the Second Amendment to the Constitution protects the right of citizens to visibly bear arms.

However, some Republican lawmakers have also shown reservations, warning that open carry could increase tensions in public spaces and complicate police work.

Florida, one of the states with more guns in circulation

According to the specialized site Ammo.com, about 35% of Florida residents own a firearm, which equates to about 7.5 million people.

With the new judicial interpretation, Florida joins more than 25 states in the country that already allow some form of open carry.

Publix, founded in 1930 in Winter Haven, Florida, is one of the ten largest supermarket chains in the United States, with 1,421 branches in eight southern states and annual sales of US$57.9 billion in 2024.

The debate on security in public spaces continues to rage.

For many Hispanics in Florida, this change represents a greater need to know local laws and understand where you can and cannot carry a gun to avoid penalties or incidents.