IMO, the cops are there to enforce the law and protect the public and to be identified as someone to go to when needing assistance in dealing with dangerous situation.With that logic, why do cops OC and wear a uniform?
I carry to protect myself and my family. I am not there to enforce the law. I may or may not use it to protect others depending on the situation and would rather not be thrown into a fight that isn't mine and I didn't ask for.
Don't get me wrong, I don't think open carry is a bad thing. If a bad guy sees one person in a restraunt OC, he has to wonder how many more are out there CC that he doesn't know about. If everybody was forced to OC only (no CC) in public, then the bad guy knows exactly how many are (or are not at all) armed.
OC in public just isn't for me. On a farm or ranch, or rural area, sure.