Florida Man With Rifle Walks Into Walmart Lot Just Hours After New Open Carry Law Takes Effect
FLORIDA — Just hours after the state’s new open carry law took effect, a Florida man went viral for openly carrying a rifle in a Walmart parking lot, igniting heated debates over safety, legality, and public perception.
The video, filmed in a store lot and shared on X (formerly Twitter) by journalist Eric Daugherty, shows the man — nicknamed “Boomer Fudd” by online commenters — adjusting his firearm while leaning against a car. The clip quickly spread across social platforms, becoming one of the first public tests of Florida’s controversial new rule.
Law Change and Legal Backing
The First District Court of Appeal struck down Florida’s open carry ban earlier this month, ruling it unconstitutional under the Second Amendment. The court cited historical precedent, noting open carry was “the default mode of bearing arms” during America’s founding era.
🚨 JUST IN: Florida man is testing out the brand new OPEN CARRY legalization in the state at Walmart
“He just got done talking to the sheriff.”
“It’s the law.”
It’s official in Florida. The ban on open carry has been struck down.pic.twitter.com/aL47qWNt8Y
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) September 25, 2025
Attorney General James Uthmeier supported the decision, instructing prosecutors not to pursue cases against law-abiding citizens openly carrying firearms. Still, restrictions remain: guns are prohibited in schools, courthouses, and private businesses, and citizens face penalties for carrying in a rude, careless, or threatening manner.
Viral Video Reactions
The Walmart clip drew immediate backlash online. One critic wrote, “There is absolutely no reason to carry a long gun into a Walmart.” Others warned that carrying openly could create panic among shoppers or make the individual a target in a dangerous situation.
Supporters, however, defended the man’s actions, saying visible firearms might deter crime. “Just let people carry how they want to carry,” one commenter insisted.
Even some gun owners who welcomed the ruling admitted they would avoid open carry themselves, fearing it could “scare the hell out of people” and hurt the public’s perception of responsible firearm owners.
A Major Shift for Florida
The decision marks a major shift in Florida’s gun laws. Licensed gun owners can now openly carry firearms in most public spaces, but officials stress that with new rights come new responsibilities.
Hillsborough County State Attorney Suzy Lopez noted that open carry charges were already rare before the ruling, with only 14 cases out of 43,000 prosecutions this year. Still, she emphasized the importance of caution: “Just because open carry is the law of the state of Florida does not mean that people can open carry anywhere.”
The Walmart parking lot video shows that Floridians are wasting no time in testing the limits of the law, sparking debates likely to continue in communities, online forums, and courtrooms for months to come.
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