Oklahoma’s new open-gun-carry law effective tomorrow allows anyone licensed to carry a concealed firearm to do it in the open, in a belt or shoulder holster, loaded or unloaded, says the New York Times. In a state with 142,000 men and women licensed to carry concealed weapons, Oklahomans will take advantage of the law by displaying their handguns while they shop for groceries, eat at restaurants, and walk into banks.
Advocates for gun rights said the ability to “open carry” would deter crime and eliminate the risks of a wardrobe mishap, such as when someone carrying a concealed weapon breaks the law by accidentally exposing the firearm. The new law is a symbolic as well as practical victory. The Times quotes supporters as saying “there was no better advertisement for the Second Amendment than to have thousands of responsible adults openly carrying their weapons in a highly visible fashion.” Oklahoma is the 15th state to allow open carrying of firearms with a license. All but six states and the District of Columbia allow some form of open carry, said John Pierce of OpenCarry.org.