Howdy Amigo!
First things first: Anything offered to a generality must, perforce, be generalized in response. There will always be exceptions to any given generality.
That being said, let's consider the following:
Bad guys ain't looking to be dead hero types. They'd much rather be live cowards.
Bad guys tend to be cowardly. They don't hold up well when confronted.
Bad guys don't want to be shot, they want to do a little miscreancy, and will tend to go after an easy mark.
Your open carrying presence in a potential crime scene means you might give them trouble they don't want or need.
Your open carrying presence is confusing, because they might think you're a cop. It also may cause them to believe you have advanced training.
Bad guys seldom have any training, let alone advanced training.
Cop killers tend to get the harshest treatment in court, so they really don't much care to tangle with a cop.
If they see you walking around with an openly carried handgun, it will cause them to wonder how many concealed carry guns might also be present.
Bad guys who see your open carried handgun may decide it lends an element of peril to their nefarious plans they do not wish to chance. The odds, if they are capable of figuring odds, strongly suggest they may be hurt badly or killed in a gunfight. They ain't looking for a gunfight, they're looking for easy pickin's.
The same logic applies to gun free zones. They are crime scenes precisely because bad guys know they aren't likely to encounter resistance.
Your open carried handgun suggests a very powerful element of resistence.
One where odds are far too great they will lose.
The result of such reflection is, they'll go away and seek a softer target.
Or perhaps, reconsider their intention to perform miscreancy altogether.
The Aurora theater shooter did not wish to be shot. Hence, he wore tac gear. Once outside, confronted with guns pointed at him, he surrendered.
Had somebody put a round or several back in his direction, he'd likely have given up the attack. He clearly did not wish to be shot, hence the tac gear.
Claims that open carry makes one a target assumes a variable that is likely not in play: A level of awareness by the carrier that he makes himself a target whether he is armed or not. Situational awareness should always be operational with 360 focus. Victims often say "I never saw him coming" because they do not use much situational awareness. A citizen is much more likely to become a victim when focused on texting than openly carrying a sidearm.
Make eye contact with everyone in your vicinity. Let them know you see them. This is especially true when in an area that has potential as a target.
somebody walks into a convenience store where you are shopping, and you are aware of their arrival because your situational awareness is 'switched on'.
You make eye contact with the new arrival, and they know you've seen them (potential witness in their prosecution).
They spot your handgun. They know you've seen them come in.
You have the ability to defend against miscreancy.
You may be an LEO, for all they know.
You have an aura of confidence, while they may be nervous.
They may have a gun, but lack confidence born of practice and training.
They also do not know how many other guns may be at the location.
Guns that will be turned on them should they engage.
The more of these elements are in evidence, the less the odds seem to be in their favor.
With any luck, the simple act of seeing an armed carrier may dissuade them from doing this particular crime,
and may even result in their making a different career decision.
The open carrier sends a message.... Do not try it here!
As a generality, they won't!
Blessings,
M-Taliesin
I didn't mention how wearing "police socks" might make you a target of law enforcement.... 
