Visual firearms do work. While I cant say I have any stories of open carry myself I was in uniform not long ago and decided to go in to a family dollar to buy the usual lunch (Not far off the beaten path) so I pulled in. I noticed when I walked in a black male wearing sunglasses and all black standing by the register looking around but not having anything in his hands.
Now this is not to say this was suspicious because people go in there and buy cigarettes and such from behind the counter so I thought nothing of it and went on about my business. When I got my items to the counter he was gone but the staff who I knew personally was telling me he was creepy because he kept letting customers go ahead of him. When he saw me walk in he walked out immediately and got in his car and left.
It was just about 20 minutes later a second family dollar around the corned and down the street a few blocks was robbed. When we looked at the video it was the
exact same guy that was in the store when I walked in. Now the staff greets me with open arms when I go in