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MechAg94 wrote:Well, I wouldn't call that "perfectly legal". More like pushing the limits. You are fine in the right circumstances.

Well, it is perfectly legal: an inducing panic or disturbing the peace charge would not hold up at trial because the elements of the (Ohio statute) crime are not there. I am simply pointing out that if done in a crowded shopping mall, it would be poor judgment. There are lots of things that are perfectly legal but not a good idea.

Point it at a person (or even threaten with it) and it is aggravated menacing (unless use of deadly force is justified).

Walking across a parking lot at night with a gun in hand down by your side would be perfectly legal. Now, walking through a crowd of people in a mall with gun in hand would definitely provoke a MWAG call. The police would try to turn that into a charge like inducing panic or disturbing the peace. That would be a poor behavior choice that results in a "ride vs rap" scenario.

C-dub wrote:

Jumping Frog wrote:Keeping in mind that Ohio is an open carry state and holding a handgun down by your side while walking to your car is perfectly legal, ...

Whaaat? Really?

Yeah, is there a question here?

I should also mention that it does not require a license to open carry.

As background info, a local article said he was unholstering to carry his handgun in his hand from the elevator to his car.

This happened at night in a parking garage in the "Over-the-Rhine" neighborhood of Cincinnati. This was traditionally a BAD, BAD, BAD part of town that has recently experienced a certain amount of gentrification and renewal. So people are going there to go out to a restaurant, for example, but trouble is never that far away.

I understand a tactical advantage to having a gun in hand or grasped in your pocket, compared to drawing from a holster under a heavy winter coat. Keeping in mind that Ohio is an open carry state and holding a handgun down by your side while walking to your car is perfectly legal, I could see myself choosing to do that as well. However, I would not be drunk (if he was), and more ideally, I'd NEVER be in that neighborhood at night (especially with my wife!).