I’ve lived in Ocala for 10 years and trained over 30,000 people in firearm safety across Florida. I’m a nationally recognized firearms instructor – and honestly, a lot of Ocala-News readers have probably sat in one of my classes.
Now that open carry is legal, I’ve been hearing the same recycled line: “You’ll be the first one targeted.” I’ve heard it a hundred times, but here’s the truth – there’s not a single verified case in history of a criminal picking an open carrier first. Not one. It’s just a complete myth with no stats, articles, or videos backing it up.
Open carry isn’t about showing off, it’s about comfort and culture. In Florida’s heat, nobody wants to glue a pistol to their skin under three layers of clothing. States like Texas and Arizona figured that out a long time ago, and their crime rates didn’t suddenly skyrocket because someone tucked in their shirt…