I live in NC, and am leaning toward getting my CHP right now, partially so I can legally carry in SC. I'm thinking maybe an empty open holster while CC? or a paper print-out of a gun sticking out of a pocket?
You know from the NC forum that I'm a HUGE fan of civil disobedience, especially of the First Amendment kind (freedom of speech/expression). So I'm going to say I like the first part of your idea, but I don't like the second part. Here's why:
An empty holster is OBVIOUSLY an EMPTY holster. It is an open, empty container on your belt, and nobody--not even the most crazed anti-gun soccer mom yuppie is going to mistake it for a gun. Empty holsters are an enigma--Holsters are meant to carry a gun, so wearing an empty one will often be a conversation starter--people will ask you why you are wearing it--and that gives you the opportunity to educate them to things like OC, silly gun laws, and such.
A paper printout of a gun (or a blue/orange plastic "training gun) worn in a holster, however, is in my opinion, just short of a Darwin Award situation. It's almost an open invitation for someone to call in a MWAG call on you, or some twitchy rookie to put a few rounds in you back while you are reaching for your wallet at the ATM. ESPECIALLY in a low-light situation, wearing a graphic depiction of a gun or a "training gun" in a holster/pocket/waistband is pretty much ASKING to be treated like a troublemaker.
It's one thing to be accused of being a troublemaker but be actually posing no visible threat to anyone--just making a statement in an oddball or eccentric way (empty holster).
It's quite another thing altogether to give the APPEARANCE of doing something illegal while technically not breaking the law...
Personally I think
EVERY gun owner should EHOC any time they visit SC, FL, TX, MD, NY, NJ, and any other place that doesn't allow (or severely restricts) OC as a statement of solidarity and blatant civil disobedience. They CAN'T arrest you for a firearms violation--there are NO laws on the books that prohibit wearing an empty holster in ANY state. And they would be VERY hard pressed to even make a Disorderly Conduct charge stick, because you would have a positive defense of the First Amendment.
The purchase, possession, and even WEARING of a holster in and of itself is ENTIRELY non-regulated--you don't even have to be 18 or provide ID to buy one. In the eyes of the law, at least for regulatory purposes, a holster is no different than a t-shirt. Someone might not like what it says, but that doesn't make wearing one a crime...
Any attempt to try and tie EHOC to any sort of disorderly conduct is a direct and blatant violation of your FUNDAMENTAL CIVIL RIGHTS and is nothing more than a JBT trampling of the 1A.
If any court would attempt to convict me for DC while EHOCing, my next move would be to file a Federal Civil Rights Violation (§1983) lawsuit against the arresting officers, their department, the DA, and the presiding Judge. The mere suggestion of such a filing should be enough to get them to drop such a frivolous charge...