Sounds like your smith is older, or is old enough to have lived through the time when what he said was more or less true, and has chosen not to open carry since that time, and further, has not kept up with current events. The legal cites others have provided are fine and correct. I'm in central Ohio (northern Franklin/southern Delaware county, also in Union county a lot) and I open carry all the time, except when concealed carrying under Ohio's bizarre vehicle = concealed carry laws. In other words, if I'm not in the vehicle (or on it, for a motorcycle) I'm open carrying. I have had non-eventful encounters with LEO's and nobody has stuffed and cuffed me yet, in fact, it's been a rather pleasant experience to be greeted almost overwhelmingly with either happy people, or at worst, somebody who is neutral and remains silent.
In short, your smith is living in 1974 and hasn't left it yet. He may want to study up on 21st century Ohio law, which is increasingly similar to 18th century Constitutional carry (and the parts that aren't, we're working on making so). The only places I know where cops are still in the dark ages are Canton (home of now *EX* officer Harless) and Cleveland (who is getting slapped around so hard in court that I think they may be put in time out until they grow up).