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Keith B wrote: A lot of it depends on how you present yourself and your appearance. What is your manner of dress normally? And what types of businesses did you visit?

I am a retired Army officer whose one concession to civilian life is the beard I promised my self during Basic Combat Training in 1973. I do not own any shorts or short sleeved shirts. I always wear a long sleeved shirt (I may roll up the sleeves) and jeans or slacks with athletic shoes or a two-piece suit. 5'10" and 175lbs.

I carry openly as I go about my life. My wife, with her Ruger LCR .38, and I usually stay at Holiday Inn Express or La Quinta. I have attended week-long conventions at higher-end hotels in AZ and CO. Whataburger in AZ. Starbucks, Target, Chili's, Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe's, Hobby Lobby, church, and many more. Longhorn is our favorite steakhouse. The only place I want to carry that I do not do so is into Texas hospitals. I'm working on that.

If I ever get to Idaho, I'll carry openly wherever I legally can. Works for me. Your mileage will vary.

As with most things in life, it comes down to which risks we are willing to manage and which benefits matter most to us.

To be clear, I've carried openly in urban and suburban locations such as Tucson, AZ; Colorado Springs and Pueblo, CO; Oletha and Kansas City, KS; Kansas City and Hamilton, MO; Alamogordo, NM; Oklahoma City and Edmond, OK; and Texas cities including Austin, Bastrop, Elgin, Giddings, Navasota, Round Rock, Pflugerville, Cedar Park, Waco, Ft Worth, Lubbock, El Paso, and many others. Starting in 2013 in other states, 2016 in Texas. Same results in large and small cities. No muss, no fuss. Other states seem more accommodating, but they have been at it longer. I expect Texas to catch up.

cmgee67 wrote:What does that say about me when I OC my Ruger Vaquero in my El Paso saddlery

Probably about the same thing it says about me since I always carry my S&W M&P M2.0 5 inch openly in its Safariland ALS. I've carried openly in AZ, CO, KS, MO, NM, OK, and Texas. No issue, no problems.