44 States have legal open carry. The word is getting out that illegally arresting someone for open carry results in cash settlements and bad publicity. It is not good for a police career. Those who open carry are exercising their rights.
We are winning.
Rifle-Toting Troy Teen Open Carries for First Time Since Trial (MI)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2912857/posts
What is the source for your 44 state figure? Last I knew, California, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Florida, South Carolina, Illinois, and New York don’t allow open carry in public. That only leaves 42 states and doesn’t include those states that allow but severely restrict open carry.