After a federal judge struck down Florida’s unconstitutional open carry ban in September, Publix, the state’s largest grocery chain, simply updated its policy to follow the law: allowing law-abiding Floridians to openly carry their handguns in its stores.
You’d think the world had ended.
The professional fearmongers at Giffords — the same D.C.-based gun confiscation outfit that’s been wrong about everything for thirty years — immediately took to Facebook, clutching their pearls and predicting doomsday.
“We should all be able to go on a grocery run without worrying if we’ll make it home,” they wailed. “This is a massive threat to all Floridians!”
A massive threat? Please.
What Giffords really means is: they can’t stand the sight of free Americans exercising their rights.
Gun Owners Are Winning — and America Is Safer Than Ever
Here’s what the gun-grabbers don’t want you to know: thirty-eight states — more than three-quarters of the country — already allow open carry in some form.
And as of 2025, twenty-nine states have full constitutional or “permitless” carry laws, meaning no government permission slip is required to carry a firearm for self-defense.
If Giffords’ talking points were true, these states would be bloodbaths. But the facts say otherwise.
The FBI’s own Uniform Crime Reports show no correlation between open carry or permitless carry and increased violent crime. In fact, many constitutional carry states — like Maine, Vermont, and Idaho — consistently rank among the safest in the nation.
That’s because good people with guns stop bad people with guns — a reality the gun control crowd refuses to admit.
Publix Got It Right — H-E-B Should Be Next
Now let’s talk about Texas.
Texas-based H-E-B, one of the most successful grocery chains in the country, allows licensed concealed carry in its stores — and that’s commendable.
But when open carry became legal after the 2015 legislative session, H-E-B’s corporate office made the wrong call. The company announced a corporate-wide ban on open carry and promptly posted § 30.07 signage at every store entrance in Texas.
At the time, an H-E-B spokesperson said the policy was meant to “maintain a family-friendly environment.”
But what could be more family-friendly than a policy that deters criminals and empowers parents to protect their children? Open carry does exactly that. Criminals think twice when they can clearly see that the people around them are not soft targets.
By banning open carry, H-E-B isn’t protecting families — it’s sending a message that lawful gun ownership is something to be hidden. That’s not safety; that’s stigma.
If Publix can respect freedom in Florida, H-E-B should do the same in Texas.
Instead of enforcing a blanket prohibition, H-E-B should revisit its 2015 policy and trust the responsible gun owners who already shop there every day. Texans shouldn’t have to hide their rights to exercise them.
What Happens if You Open Carry in a Store with a 30.07 Sign
Under Texas law, if you accidentally open carry into a business with a 30.07 sign posted, here’s what can happen:
If you leave immediately when notified, it’s a Class C misdemeanor (fine up to $200).
If you refuse to leave, it jumps to a Class A misdemeanor — punishable by up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine.
That’s true whether you’re a License to Carry (LTC) holder or a permitless carrier — the trespass law applies equally.
The difference is that an LTC holder is typically more protected legally if an incident arises (e.g., disputes, clarifications, or mistaken enforcement), while a non-LTC carrier could face added scrutiny if officers question whether their carry was lawful under the constitutional carry statutes.
So, if a store posts 30.07 signage, open carry there is legally prohibited.
Tell H-E-B to Follow Publix’s Lead
Freedom doesn’t defend itself — gun owners do.
Publix just proved that respecting the law and trusting law-abiding citizens isn’t dangerous — it’s what real corporate responsibility looks like. Now it’s time for H-E-B to follow suit.
If you believe Texans deserve the same respect for their rights that Floridians now enjoy, call H-E-B’s corporate office today and respectfully urge them to lift their statewide open-carry ban.
H-E-B Corporate Office: (210) 938-8000
You may also write them here:
646 S. Flores Street, San Antonio, TX 78204
Tell them you’re a law-abiding Texan, a customer, and a supporter of the Second Amendment — and that it’s time for H-E-B to trust its customers, not treat them like criminals.
Because when corporations stand with freedom, families are safer, communities are stronger, and Texas stays Texas.
