In many places in CA it is next to impossible to get a concealed carry permit.

It is currently legal to open carry an unloaded firearm. (State legislators are trying to ban this as I write.) Unloaded defined as no ammunition attached to the firearm in any way (so none in the mag either). I have always wondered about why someone would open carry like this. It seems provocative - someone may choose to pick a fight with you because you are displaying the gun, but then it is not available for use because it is unloaded. An unloaded firearm is just a very expensive rock to throw at someone.

Either let people carry, or don't.

Just my .02