According to Ind. Code, title 35, art. 47, ch. 1:
No person shall carry a handgun in any vehicle or on or about his person without a license being in his possession. Exceptions to carrying without a license:
<UL TYPE=SQUARE>
Carrying on one's property, in one's dwelling, or one's fixed place of business.
Any person while carrying a handgun unloaded and in a secure wrapper from the place of purchase, or to and from a place of repair or in moving from one place of abode or business to another.
Regularly enrolled members of any organization authorized to purchase or receive weapons from the U.S. or from Indiana while they are "at or going to or from their place of assembly or target practice."
Law enforcement officers, members of the state board of pharmacy and authorized corrections and judicial officers.
Military personnel while on duty.
Officers or employees of the U.S. duly authorized to carry handguns.
Express company employees when engaged in company business.
Persons engaged in the firearms business in the usual or ordinary course of that business. </UL>
I am not a lawyer or LEO, therefore the following is personal opinion and NOT legal advice. That having been said...
I have read all the sections pertaining to carrying in Indiana and it does not seem that there is any distinction whatsoever of 'concealed' from 'open carry'; only the provisions listed above. It is quite possible he was a local FFL just grabbing a quick bite down the street from his shop, or a courier on his way home.
In Oklahoma (where I live) and Texas (where I work) the distinction is quite clear as to what 'concealed' means and that 'open carry' is illegal unless you are at a private residence, range, place of business, are an LEO or otherwise required to carry openly (guards), etc.
Personally, I don't have a problem with it in the world. I wish more places were like Arizona (where I used to live), as 'open carry' is completely legal.
Ariz. Rev. Statutes §§13-2904, 13-3101 et. seq., 17-301, 17-305, 17-309, 17-312.
No person shall carry a firearm "concealed on his person." This does not apply to a person in his dwelling, business premises or on real property owned or leased by that person. A handgun carried in a belt holster which is wholly or partially visible or carried in luggage is not considered carrying concealed.
(This also does not apply if you have a CCW Permit. AZ is a 'shall issue' state with plenty of reciprocal agreements.)
It is unlawful to carry a firearm concealed within the immediate control of any person in or on a means of transportation. This does not apply to firearms carried in a case, holster or scabbard in a means of transportation or a storage compartment, trunk, pack, luggage, or glove compartment of a means of transportation.
I realize the thought of people 'walking down the street with a six-gun strapped to their hip' scares the cr@p out of some people. Oh well. How many 'mass shootings' have you seen in the news about Arizona?
When I lived there I carried my S&W .357 in plain view on my hip. If I was in the car, it was in a holster mounted to my seat. If I was at work it was in my wheeled laptop computer case.
IMHO, if more states adopted an 'open carry' policy, crime rates would drop dramatically as would mass shootings specifically.
[This message has been edited by JeepBear (edited March 09, 2000).]
