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A Florida man has gone viral after being filmed openly carrying a rifle outside a Walmart just hours after the state’s new open carry law took effect. The video, shared on X (formerly Twitter) by journalist Eric Daugherty, shows the man adjusting his firearm while leaning against a car in the store’s parking lot. The moment quickly drew widespread attention, marking one of the first real-world examples of Floridians testing the controversial new rule.
The open carry law became official in Florida after the state’s First District Court of Appeal struck down the ban earlier this month, calling it unconstitutional under the Second Amendment. The court pointed to historical precedent, noting that open carry was “the default mode of bearing arms” during the nation’s founding era.
Florida’s Top Lawyer Endorses Open Carry Decision, Outlines Key Restrictions
According to Fox, Attorney General James Uthmeier backed the ruling in a September 15 memo, instructing law enforcement and prosecutors not to pursue cases against law-abiding citizens who openly carry firearms. However, he cautioned that restrictions remain in place, including bans in schools, courthouses, and private businesses, as well as penalties for carrying in a “rude, careless, angry, or threatening manner.”
Defense attorney Anthony Rickman called the ruling “a monumental decision for people who are gun rights advocates,” noting that Florida is now aligned with the majority of U.S. states that already allow open carry.
Safety Concerns Erupt After Viral Walmart Clip
The Walmart video triggered a flood of reactions online, with opinions sharply divided. Critics raised safety concerns. “There is absolutely no reason to carry a long gun into a Walmart,” wrote one user, warning that such actions could easily spark panic or confusion among other gun owners. Another argued that open carry eliminates the tactical advantage of surprise, essentially painting a target on the carrier, while a third simply said, “So much boomer fudd about open carry.”
Others defended the law. Some users pushed back on the criticism, pointing out that more visible firearms might deter crime. “Just let people carry how they want to carry,” one supporter wrote, suggesting that law-abiding citizens exercising their rights should not be penalized.
Skeptics of practicality chimed in. While supportive of the ruling, some gun owners admitted they would avoid open carry for tactical reasons, fearing it could “scare the hell out of people” and damage public perception.
Florida’s Open Carry Shift Called ‘Major,’ But Prosecutors Stress Responsibility
For Floridians, the ruling represents a major shift. Licensed gun owners can now carry firearms openly in most public spaces, but prosecutors emphasize that the change doesn’t give free rein. Hillsborough County State Attorney Suzy Lopez noted that open carry charges were rare, even before the ruling, with only 14 out of roughly 43,000 prosecutions this year.
Still, she stressed the importance of responsibility. “Just because open carry is the law of the state of Florida does not mean that people can open carry anywhere,” she said. As the Walmart video shows, however, some Floridians are wasting no time in testing the limits and sparking debates that are likely to continue long after the ruling.
