Publix Reverses Course On Open Carry - Here’s What Shoppers Need To Know
The Open-Carry Debate Is Now Happening Inside Publix
Publix is once again asking shoppers to leave open-carry firearms out of its grocery aisles - unless they are law enforcement.
New signs have recently appeared at Publix stores across Florida, including locations in Boynton Beach and Palm Beach County. The message is polite, but clear: “Publix kindly asks that only law enforcement openly carry firearms in our stores.”
For Boynton Beach residents, this is the kind of policy change people may notice during an ordinary grocery run - somewhere between grabbing deli meat, dodging the bakery section, and trying not to spend $87 on “just a few things.”
The change comes after months of confusion following a major Florida court ruling in 2025 that effectively made open carry legal in the state. After that ruling, Governor Ron DeSantis and state officials said Florida’s longtime open-carry ban would no longer be enforced.
Publix initially loosened its policy to align with the legal change, becoming one of the first major Florida retailers to allow customers to openly carry firearms inside its stores. But now, the Lakeland-based grocery chain appears to be stepping back toward its previous position.
The decision puts Publix more in line with major retailers like Walmart, Target, and Costco, which discourage or restrict open carry on private property.
Reactions are mixed. Some gun-rights supporters argue that open carry is protected by the Second Amendment and Florida law. Others, especially parents shopping with young children, say they feel more comfortable when visible firearms are not part of the weekly grocery trip.
The key point for residents is this: while Florida law may now permit open carry, private businesses still have the right to set their own policies. That means stores like Publix can ask customers not to openly carry firearms and may refuse service to those who do not follow the rules.
So the next time Boynton Beach shoppers walk into Publix, they may see a small sign with a much bigger message: the open-carry debate is no longer just happening in courtrooms or Tallahassee. It has made its way to the checkout line.
