My wife hated my open carry, and actually encouraged my CC license, although I've never had a problem with people staring... for the most part, it seems that people never actually LOOK at other people anymore anyway!
She finally relaxed completely, and began to take seriously to the idea of having a firearm handy here at home, after we witnessed a drug deal in the Meijers store on Preston near the Bullitt County Line.
Three young saggy pants were using a hole in the wall behind the bubblegum machines, between the inner and outer doors, at the Grocery end of the place... what we saw, as we came through the inner door pushing our cart, froze her in place, and I could not get her to back up into the store, and away from them! She was that terrified by them, their threatening appearance, expressions, and language, all directed at us.
I stepped to the side of the cart, and just looked at each in turn, my hand on my weapon under my vest, but without actually displaying it. The older of the three grabbed a small plastic bag of white powder from the hole, and all three ran outside and around toward the side parking area. He was the one that one of the younger one's had just handed a roll of bills to when we came through the door, and I've often wondered if they pair got their dope from him out back!
We got in her car as fast as we could after throwing our stuff inside, and left.
She's been a believer in "It can happen anywhere, any time... and to YOU!" ever since.
My son has convinced his wife by clipping stories out of newspapers that come in on UPS trucks at his work, about home invasions, car-jackings, and daylight kidnapping/rapes... she has taken an interest in shooting with him, and they are shopping for a weapon for her now.