Carrying a holstered weapon while on your front yard would have a hard time successfully meeting the standards for "calculated to cause alarm". I've met more than one officer on my premises with a weapon in a holster (in the front yard) with nary a comment being made. I don't wear it out mowing the yard - but there's one in my pocket. The officer in question is not only wrong, he's so wrong that he'd likely score his city a lawsuit by the time it was over and done with.
One thing I seldom see mentioned in ANY discussion is to calmly ask an officer you sense is preparing to escalate against you to call for a supervisor. I've done that myself (more than once), and have always found the more experienced officers to not only be a calming influence on the younger one, but since they're doing the explaining, they believe it.
