criminals are afraid of armed victims. they tend to avoid them. they're more afraid of a victim with a gun than they are of police officers.
here's one article.
where is the evidence to suggest open carry increases one's likelyhood of being a target?
I never said it did. However if someone is going to make a statement about how violent criminals are going to behave I want to know where they got their information/opinion. How I choose to carry is not a casual decision. Its one that may impact my life, the life of my loved ones, and the life of innocent people around me. To make the assumption that merely wearing your gun in the open makes you safer and deters crime is IMHO ignorant and irresponsible. You better train and plan for your worst day if you carry and that includes the day the criminal is motivate, capable, and not afraid of your gun.
Exactly the point my instructor was making. While it will deter in many cases, should you find yourself in a situation where a trained criminal gunman (even if you think the criminal mind may be insane or not, many are VERY intelligent and have training) has to assess his or her situation, I'd rather not be displaying my weapon. What they don't know might hurt them in this instance, as opposed what they don't know won't hurt them.