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Open Carry doesn't make you a target in my opinion. I get that supposition from some of the same reports I believe Charles is mentioning and in my rationale it seems a reasonable assumption.

However open carry surely does equal attention. If I were about to rob a donut shop I would be looking around at the people in the store and if a gun was visible I would CERTAINLY take note. To what end I don't know. It might dissuade me from doing the robbery.

If there is any truth to the idea that it makes one a target I would think it would also be a deterrent to anyone to whom a deterrent means anything. There are some that wouldn't care and shoot you first then rob the place. There are others who won't take the chance knowing a armed person is present.

What is for certain is that your demeanor as you walk around with a gun will make a lot of difference in how you are perceived. If you seem and act professional, clean cut, dressed reasonably well, not shaggy, etc you will probably not cause any alarm. If you dress like you just got off a road crew, tatoos everywhere, unkempt, you will draw more scrutiny. Sorry if that offends anyone. You and I know you can't judge a book by its cover but the world doesn't know that rule, it seems. It would be nice if that kind of thing didn't matter but it does, like it or not, and it will have a bearing on how you are perceived.

tex