but I do think the police should've asked him to refrain from carrying his rifle loaded and un-cased.
Some places it is illegal to carry a concealed firearm even if it is concealed in a bag. A locked case is often different, but walking someplace with an obvious firearm unready for use is a good way to get it robbed from you. They are not only often valuable, but are desired by criminals. This means someone with a firearm they cannot use is a pretty ripe target.
People mention carrying them in bags, gym bags, and other non secure containers to intentional make it impossible to recognize as a firearm. That is specificly illegal many places. It is not locked in a case, yet is concealed, and not only concealed, but intentionaly concealed for the purpose of carrying it without being recognized as carrying a firearm. I don't know about Alabama, but I know several places that is breaking the law.
So if carrying it concealed and not secured in a locking container is illegal, and carrying it openly gets one arrested, carrying a rifle on foot becomes a pretty difficult thing to do. Can you sling a bulky rigid locking gun case over your shoulder and transport it far? In a non rigid case but obviously a gun case, or in a locking case, do you like everyone, criminals included, noticing you have a valuable firearm incapable of being used and ready for the taking?
If the legal options are unusable in a case but clearly a firearm to all others (and also harder to transport on foot) including Bubba fresh on parole, or safely slung over a shoulder yet capable of being used to repel/deter the criminal element taking notice, I think the second option would be safer to the individual. An unusuable firearm is not a deterent, is not just a paper weight, it is a magnet to others, especialy those that cannot buy firearms.
Now it is unusual and all those nearby should take notice of someone walking with a rifle. Even be capable of defending themselves or others if necessary (which they should be anyways.) If it seems out of place, call the police and they can investigate. HOWEVER if it is all legit and legal and after dealing with the police they find no problems, he in no way should be arrested or charged.
Imagine police approaching someone with a rifle to begin with. They are extra cautious about rifles, and if the tense situation progressed without incident, he was probably very level headed in dealing with the police. He is then arrested?