In Utah it is legal to carry an “unloaded” firearm so long as it is not concealed (for that you need a Concealed Firearm Permit issued by the Utah Department of Public Safety, or by a state with which Utah has reciprocity).
Here’s some audio (followed by video) of a guy in New Hampshire who does just that: he has a firearm holstered to his hip in open view as he’s waling from his car to a meeting down the road. While doing so he’s stopped by a Public Safety officer and questioned. What’s interesting is this guy knows his rights (which vary by state, so make sure you know and abide by the laws in your state, don’t take my word for it!), and exercises them.
The officer asks him for his ID, the dude replies that he’s not legally obligated to supply that information. The officer asks what he’s doing with a firearm on his hip, just walking from his car to his meeting.
The take-home messages are that the police DO NOT NECESSARILY know YOUR rights, and may take offense when you know and exercise them. More importantly is that you cannot exercise your rights if you do not know them, and if you do not exercise your rights you will loose them.
I’m not advocating that everyone go strap a sidearm on and walk through the mall, just that we should all take the example of this guy: know your rights, exercise them, and don’t back down from them. The sidewalk isn’t the proper forum to remove one’s rights, that’s up to the legislature, during session — and they shouldn’t remove/restrict your rights there either.
