Publix announced that it will now allow customers to open carry firearms inside its Florida stores.
In a statement to News 6 on Wednesday, Publix officials said that the company follows all federal, state, and local laws.
As such, the company began allowing open carry as of Sept. 25, which is when the state officially permitted the practice.
The move comes following a landmark court ruling earlier in the month that found a statute prohibiting open carry in Florida violated the Second Amendment.
Retired fire paramedic Lt. David Murphy told News 6 he does not think it will be a pleasure seeing people walking around the grocery store with a weapon… even though it is now legal in Florida.
“Open weapons just doesn’t make sense,” Murphy said.
His wife Irene agrees.
“I have grandchildren. I would be alarmed if they saw people with a gun in the grocery store,” she added.
[BELOW: Open carry now officially legal in Florida. Here’s what to know]
But not everyone News 6 spoke with says they would be alarmed.
“Maybe we should all get one, so it could be an even playing field,” Stephen Hernandez told News 6.
But while state and federal laws already ban residents from carrying firearms in public places like schools, police stations, post offices, and polling centers, there are no explicit restrictions on grocery stores.
That being said, private property owners still have the power to prohibit firearms and ask guests to leave, so the decision in this case is ultimately up to Publix.
“Treating customers with dignity and respect is a founding belief at Publix,” the company’s statement reads. “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 and protect our customers and associates.”
Publix has 882 stores in Florida.
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