TTAG reader Zach writes:
“When state and federal courts have considered severe restrictions or bans on open carry they have been struck down. When they have considered restrictions or bans on concealed carry they have been upheld. I wondered why it was 31 states allow the unlicensed open carry of handguns and even more if you include long guns (as in Texas) while concealed carry was illegal (the carry permit providing an exception to the ban on concealed carry). I found out that . . .
“…the reason is that courts have always said open carry was the right and they based it on cultural considerations where criminals generally carry concealed because they have something to hide and want, dare I say it, the element of surprise against their more ‘manly’ fellows. In the case of Norman vs. State, the safe $ is that a court is going to do this again in Florida, hopefully giving them unlicensed if not licensed open carry of handguns. Florida is one of five states that ban open carry.”