The way I see it, it doesn't matter what your personal reason is for open carrying. If you're doing it because in your opinion it's a more convenient way of carrying or because your gun is too big to conceal effectively or if you just bought a $3000 Ed Brown and you wanted to show it off a little...it's all within your rights and you shouldn't have to justify your rights to anyone for any reason.
Do I necessarily believe that showing off your new gun is a good reason to open carry? No, but it doesn't matter because that person has every right to do so and should some POS walk into the gas station to rob it, I'm pretty damn tickled that showoff chose that day to carry regardless of method.
The only caveat to open carry that I firmly believe in is retention, retention, retention. I've been to Mexico (before it became a cartel war zone) and it was wall to wall thieves and pickpockets (granted it was Juarez). Someone who's even a semi-talented pickpocket can snatch a gun out of a non-secure holster before you know what happened, I've seen it done (not guns but wallets and purses) with my own eyes, it happened to my own family. Maybe the bad guy takes the gun and slips away to sell it or use it himself in the next crime or maybe he uses it right then in the case of the OP's linked story. I also agree with GC, in that you should take a class on protecting your gun while open carrying if possible.
In the police academy they teach different methods of gun retention because a retention holster isn't a guarantee, as I'm sure everyone knows. I firmly believe in using the best retention holster you can find and practicing both defeating the retention quickly for drawing your weapon and protecting your holster from being defeated by someone else. Your average dipstick is going to make a grab for your gun quickly and come back with a hand full of air but you better be ready to go from there. I like the 5.11 Thumb drive holsters but there are several different good designs. If you know a LEO hit him or her up to teach you some methods to protect your firearm from being taken away.
Do I necessarily believe that showing off your new gun is a good reason to open carry? No, but it doesn't matter because that person has every right to do so and should some POS walk into the gas station to rob it, I'm pretty damn tickled that showoff chose that day to carry regardless of method.
The only caveat to open carry that I firmly believe in is retention, retention, retention. I've been to Mexico (before it became a cartel war zone) and it was wall to wall thieves and pickpockets (granted it was Juarez). Someone who's even a semi-talented pickpocket can snatch a gun out of a non-secure holster before you know what happened, I've seen it done (not guns but wallets and purses) with my own eyes, it happened to my own family. Maybe the bad guy takes the gun and slips away to sell it or use it himself in the next crime or maybe he uses it right then in the case of the OP's linked story. I also agree with GC, in that you should take a class on protecting your gun while open carrying if possible.
In the police academy they teach different methods of gun retention because a retention holster isn't a guarantee, as I'm sure everyone knows. I firmly believe in using the best retention holster you can find and practicing both defeating the retention quickly for drawing your weapon and protecting your holster from being defeated by someone else. Your average dipstick is going to make a grab for your gun quickly and come back with a hand full of air but you better be ready to go from there. I like the 5.11 Thumb drive holsters but there are several different good designs. If you know a LEO hit him or her up to teach you some methods to protect your firearm from being taken away.
