The grocery wars just took an unexpected turn.
America’s most beloved Southern supermarket chain decided to pick a side in the Second Amendment debate.
And Publix just made one massive announcement about guns that left Walmart in a frenzy.
Publix stands with the Second Amendment after court victory
Publix emerged as the first major grocery chain in Florida to welcome the constitutional rights of its customers after a landmark court decision restored Second Amendment freedoms across the state.
The beloved Southern supermarket chain confirmed it will permit open carry in nearly 900 of its Florida stores following the First District Court of Appeal’s September decision that overturned the state’s decades-old prohibition on open carry.
"As of Sept. 25, 2025, Florida law allows the open carry of firearms. Publix follows all federal, state and local laws," a company spokesperson told local media.
The timing couldn’t be more perfect.
While woke corporations nationwide surrender to leftist pressure and strip away the rights of law-abiding Americans, Publix made the choice to respect both the Constitution and its customers.
The company emphasized that respecting customers "with dignity and respect is a founding belief at Publix," demonstrating that businesses can successfully honor constitutional rights while delivering excellent customer service.
The landmark case that changed everything
The breakthrough came thanks to Stanley Victor McDaniels, a Second Amendment advocate who intentionally challenged Florida’s restrictive law during a July 4th protest in 2022.
McDaniels positioned himself at a busy Pensacola intersection with a copy of the U.S. Constitution, openly displaying a loaded Beretta M9 pistol on his person.
His arrest was no accident – it was precisely what he hoped would happen.
Officers documented that McDaniels "had a camera set up on a tripod and stated he wanted to take this to the Supreme Court."
His strategic act of constitutional defiance succeeded when the appeals court struck down the unconstitutional law.
Judges ruled that Florida had "failed to carry its burden to show that Florida’s Open Carry Ban is consistent with this Nation’s historical tradition of firearm regulation."
https://twitter.com/RedDawnMaster/status/1976694659930816790
Attorney General James Uthmeier quickly acknowledged the court’s decision and directed law enforcement to stop arresting or prosecuting law-abiding citizens carrying firearms visibly.
Corporate America reveals its true colors
The appeals court decision created a sharp distinction between companies that honor constitutional freedoms and those that view law-abiding citizens as security threats.
Publix chose freedom.
Walmart, Winn-Dixie, Sam’s Club, Harveys Supermarket, Costco, and Target all announced they would continue restricting the rights of their customers – even though the practice is now perfectly legal.
Southeastern Grocers, which owns Winn-Dixie and related brands, announced they would maintain anti-gun policies, essentially communicating that lawful gun owners should shop elsewhere.
These businesses are delivering an unmistakable message: they distrust their own customers and refuse to acknowledge constitutional freedoms.
The difference couldn’t be starker.
As competitors maintain policies based on fear and political correctness, Publix shows that honoring the Second Amendment and delivering outstanding customer service work perfectly together.
Company officials explained they will contact law enforcement when customers "create a threatening, erratic or dangerous shopping experience," regardless of whether firearms are involved.
This sensible approach focuses on actual behavior rather than the lawful exercise of constitutional freedoms.
Florida joins the constitutional mainstream
The court decision moves Florida into alignment with 36 other states that allow some form of open carry, ending the Sunshine State’s membership in a tiny group of jurisdictions that completely banned the practice.
Florida now embraces the constitutional principle that the right to bear arms necessarily includes the right to carry them openly for legitimate purposes.
This victory represents far more than a legal development – it signals a cultural transformation that acknowledges the basic principle that law-abiding Americans shouldn’t face criminal treatment for exercising their constitutional freedoms.
McDaniels, currently incarcerated on an unrelated matter, considers himself a patriot without any regrets about his constitutional stand.
He expressed gratitude that his sacrifice created "another opportunity to change Florida law for the better."
McDaniels described participating in what he called a battle "fought with pen and paper in local, state and federal courtrooms" to restore constitutional freedoms.
His personal sacrifice delivered benefits extending far beyond Florida and potentially influencing the entire nation.
Other states monitoring Florida’s experience with restored constitutional freedoms may see businesses nationwide reconsidering policies that needlessly restrict the rights of law-abiding Americans thanks to Publix’s leadership.
The company’s decision demonstrates that honoring the Second Amendment and treating customers with respect represent perfectly compatible values in American business.
This outcome shows what happens when companies choose to support their customers rather than surrendering to woke pressure campaigns.
¹ Publix spokesperson quoted in multiple Florida news outlets, October 2025.
² McDaniels v. State of Florida, Florida’s First District Court of Appeal, September 2025.
³ Stanley Victor McDaniels quoted in Ammoland Inc., October 9, 2025.
⁴ Various Florida news sources reporting on Publix policy change, October 2025.
