I would like to state that we have had concealed carry and open carry in the state of Missouri, and in particular for St. Louis city for awhile now and it is not safer, but worse.
St. Louis is not operating in a vacuum either.
One must be cognizant that in many cases, those who are getting concealed carry should not be permitted to do so because of their violent criminal history. St. Louis City and County are very liberal in handing out probation and Suspended Imposition of Sentences (effectively a non-conviction) that are not a bar to those who seek concealed carry.
Open carry has not caught on much, and the one local story where a guy tried to do it at the zoo, got all weapons effectively banned. (I maintain that if you are doing it right, no one knows you are carrying concealed)
I have personally dealt with a half dozen individuals in the last two weeks who have concealed carry and have a sociopathic desire to “kill a mutha@##$%”, including one who was carrying a Draco knockoff under his seat. He expressed a sincere desire to kill another unknown motorist with said weapon because that motorist “mean mugged” him. (Looked at him hard).
Not everyone should have firearms.
“and in particular for St. Louis city for awhile now and it is not safer, but worse.”
question: does the absence of a CC license prevent those who shouldn’t carry from carrying anyway?