Publix grocery chain asks customers to not openly carry guns

Florida-based supermarket chain Publix is asking customers to not openly carry guns in its stores, becoming the latest in a series of retailers to do so. 

“Publix respectfully requests that only law enforcement officials openly carry firearms in our stores,” said a statement reported in multiple news outlets. 

According to The Tampa Bay Times, Florida does not allow open carrying of firearms, but it is permitted in other states with Publix locations such as Georgia, North Carolina, Alabama and Virginia. {mosads}

Publix was caught up in the issue of guns previously when it halted its political contributions after activists who were affected by the Parkland shooting led “die-ins” at Publix locations because of its support for a National Rifle Association-backed candidate. 

A number of other stores, including grocery chains Meijer and Aldi, have in recent days also asked customers not to openly carry guns. Walmart also made such an announcement earlier this month after 22 people were killed at a mass shooting in one of its stores in El Paso, Texas, last month. 

That and other recent mass shooting incidents have brought renewed scrutiny to U.S. gun laws.  

The Hill has reached out to Publix for comment.