The sheriff of a county, upon the application of any person residing in that county, may issue a qualified or unlimited license to such person to carry a pistol in a vehicle or concealed on or about his person within this state for not more than one year from date of issue, if it appears that the applicant has good reason to fear injury to his person or property or has any other proper reason for carrying a pistol, and that he is a suitable person to be so licensed
Sounds like this is wide open for a "good ole boys" type of decision making process. I like it a whole lot better when the law does not rely on a single person's opinion of who can and who cannot when it comes to firearms. Look at the situation in New Jersey where that was the case with a handicapped man just simply wanting to hunt (http://southernoutdoorlife.com/showthread.php?t=1503) . I have one better than that: Get rid of all the crap that limits anyone from carrying open OR concealed as long as they are a free citizen of the United States and are afforded the rights of the 2nd Amendment. Do you REALLY think a known criminal would open carry? I doubt it.