Can anyone tell me how many municipalities have considered passing ordinances when citizens call asking for info on open carry lately? The model goes something like this:
1) Citizen calls sherriff/city attorney/city council member
2) Citizen asks if OC is legal
3) City representative hmmms and hawwwws eventually admitting there is nothing preventing OC
4) At the next city council meeting, an ordinance prohibiting OC is proposed
5) City bans OC
The general idea is to participate in a legal activity, not bring this activity and your desire to do it to the attention of the very people who desire to ban it.
LOOK UP THE LAW YOURSELF This can be done by going here:
http://codes.sullivanpublications.com/codes-slp/
or here:
http://www.municode.com/
Look up the city you desire to OC in, find their firearms ordinances, and check to see if OC is banned. If it isn't.....YOU CAN LEGALLY OPEN CARRY.
Missouri usually follows the following method.
1) They list a section of activities that are prohibited: Article IIV :A person commits the offense of Blah, blah, blah when carrying a firearm ready and capable of lethal use:
1) a govenment building
2) an amusement park
3) openly visible to plain view
4) while eating a hamburger
5) while participating in all kind of various activities such as dressing in red spandex bike shorts and green bikini top
6) discharges the firearm in (list various places)
They will then list EXEMPTIONS to these ordinances
A) Currently licensed law enforcement officers blah, blah blah are exempted from items 1), 2), 3), 4), 5) etc.
B) Persons holding a valid CCW permit in accordance with RsMO 571.300 blah, blah, blah are exempted from items 3), 4), 5), etc. etc. etc.
You will notice that OC is banned by item #3. You will also notice CCW holders are EXCLUDED from the prohibition by the listing of item #3 in the areas of exemption. This means IT IS LEGAL WITH A CCW. In some ordinances "Openly carries a firearm" IS NOT EVEN LISTED IN THE PROHIBITIONS. This means YOU DO NOT NEED A CCW. Sometimes, in areas such as University City, Overland, MAPLEWOOD (now) they will remove listing item #3 in the exemptions part making OC illegal for EVERYONE except law enforcement. This is what sometimes happens when you call the city and ask.
If you cannot find your city listed on either Sullivan Publications or Municode, the best thing to do is run down to City Hall and ask to see their ordinances.
