Better to give them a reason to avoid you from the beginning, than to let them get the drop on you _then_ “surprise ‘em”. Most assailants are looking for easy targets - give a reason to think you’re not. Odds are you don’t have anything they want _that_ badly.
That’s why I do “Open Carry Friday” these days. Nothing says Locked and Loaded like a Glock mod 20 and 3 spare mags in a drop leg holster. Works especially well for exiting and entering vehicles.