Florida’s shiny new status as a constitutional carry state is paying dividends for law-abiding citizens who want to protect themselves while away from home.
It was long overdue for laws demanding that the good people beg the government for permission to keep and bear arms to be erased. And now, a major grocery retailer made an important announcement concerning its 882 locations in the Sunshine State.
Florida gun owners do not have to give up their 2A rights to shop for food
Publix declared last week that it welcomes open carry in its ubiquitous Florida stores. That move was acknowledged as progress by Second Amendment advocates and set an example that many other businesses will likely follow.
The company declared, “treating customers with dignity and respect is a founding belief at Publix.” Officials began allowing open carry on the grocery aisles on September 25, the same day lawmakers recognized its legality.
Last month, the First District Court of Appeals unanimously ruled the state’s open carry ban was unconstitutional. According to the court, the ban could not withstand being scrutinized through the “nation’s historical tradition of firearm regulation.”
Officials quickly declared open carry as ‘the law of the land’
And it all started with one courageous act of civil disobedience.
It was July 4, 2022, when Stanley Victor McDaniels strolled out into a busy Pensacola intersection carrying a copy of the Constitution and a loaded Beretta M9 handgun. He had a camera rolling with the full intent of taking his case all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
As it turned out, that was not necessary.
McDaniels was convicted, but his legal challenge proved wildly successful when the First District emphatically sided with the plaintiff.
While Publix did the right thing in respecting Second Amendment rights, other grocery retailers withdrew the red carpet for gun owners. Walmart, Sam’s Club, Winn-Dixie, and others announced they will maintain their prohibitions on open carry.
There’s no better way to show your patriotism than with merch that speaks before you do.
Defend America is more than a name, it’s a stand for freedom, resilience, and the values this country was built on. Every tee, hat, and mug is a symbol of unapologetic pride. Wear it loud, wear it proud, and let the world know: freedom isn’t negotiable.
Click the link below to join the movement.