Sarasota residents can now openly carry firearms in Publix stores , as the grocery chain aligns with a recent statewide ruling that allows the practice across Florida.

The decision comes about two weeks after an appeals court ruling overturned the state's ban on open carry.

It marks a shift from the grocery chain’s 2021 stance , when Publix asked customers not to openly carry firearms in states where the practice was legal, saying only law enforcement should be armed inside its stores. At the time, the company still allowed concealed carry in accordance with state law.

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