Florid legislature is trying to pass an open carry law. I don't have anything against it but I think the practice is unwise.
I was thinking more of a situation where a bad guy shoots the guy with a gun first. Concealed carry gives the armed person the advantage of surprise or at least a choice to engage or not.Are you saying 'unwise' due to being the target of a gun grabber(part of carrying a gun is maintaining control of the gun), gathering disdaining responses from other people(personally, I don't give a damn what someone else thinks) or being targeted by LEO who wish to discourage ANYONE from being armed (keep the recorder function of your phone handy and tell the fuzz you're recording their actions)?
IMHO, open carry may be 'unwise' in some locations. One big difference is how many folks engage in OC. The more, the better. If one person open carries, it results in unwanted attention. If one THOUSAND open carry, it's totally different.
MO has always been OC in most places and is now 'Constitutional concealed carry'. Neither of these has caused the highly touted 'gunfights in the streets'.
I often OC especially in summer. One would surprised just how few people pay enough attention to notice a discretely holstered handgun. I do notice and the number of citizens(both male and female) with a holster on their belt would surprise some folks.
"I am free, no matter what rules surround me. If I find them tolerable, I tolerate them; if I find them too obnoxious, I break them. I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do."
― Robert A. Heinlein
Remember back in the 1980s when gun control groups screeched that Florida would turn into the "Gunshine" state when the Sunshine State passed concealed carry? Many no doubt won't as they are too young. But we saw the same thing happen just last year as Florida adopted permitless carry. Instead of homicides going through the roof as the gun control lobby predicted, Ron DeSantis' home turf has actually seen fewer homicides. A lot fewer.
In fact, with 29 states how practicing some version of Constitutional Carry (as in "I don't need no stinkin' permit!") for law-abiding residents, the murder rate has fallen 19% in 2024. So much for blood in the streets.
Moreover, 24 states allow concealed carry within their state capitol complexes without issue, and 14 states allow for visitors in the galleries overlooking the legislative chambers to carry loaded long guns.
But the Mom types will never admit reality. Instead they appeal to fear and emotions.
... tell the fuzz ...
...My response is not to look/act like a 'wild west gunfighter'....
That's absolutely true and my experience also.I feel compelled to add this tidbit: How one dresses and their demeanor has some bearing on how open carry is perceived by others.
Now and then I see 'clowns with guns' who attract attention. Right after MO passed Constitutional carry, one such actor could be seen prowling the aisles at Walmart or just 'hanging out' outside the entrance with some sort of semi-auto in an el-cheapo nylon holster flopping on his hip as he strutted around. HE ATTRACTED ATTENTION.
I'm just an old geezer but I generally change from grubby farming/work clothes to 'town wear' before leaving home. That and the fact that I'm comfortable with carrying a gun and don't 'make a show' of carrying seems to give the general public the idea that I'm legitimate in carrying my handgun even if it's noticed. The person who's constantly adjusting or fidgetting with their carry is going to attract unwanted attention/suspicion.
Sounds familiar, they just can't understand...I see open carry around here all the time. With all the military, plain clothes detectives, and security it's pretty common. The only negative reaction I've see was last year in church when a plain clothes detective walked in wearing a nice polo shirt and slacks with his firearm and badge on his belt. Two elderly ladies in front of me started freaking out, saying, "He has a gun. I'm scared." I leaned forward and said, "He is a police officer. Look at his badge. He's probably on duty and taking personal time to go to church this morning." One of them said, "Oh ok. I feel a little better now. But it's still scary." I told her, "You're a lot safer now than you were before he walked in here. "