Empathy has nothing to do with it. It’s irresponsible for the author to try to slip some open carry non sense that has zero relevance into this otherwise very well written piece. To some how give readers the picture that he legally was carrying a gun. When in fact he was a felon (who can not legally own a firearm), so…

To legally “open carry” in Ohio or Louisiana the gun has to be in plain sight, I.e a holster. Not inside a pocket, which constitutes concealment.