Hey Guys,
I don't know about what the laws say in Georgia, and, I don't know why that man was open carrying, or even if, he was an employee at all, he may have been a plainclothes oficer at that store investigating something or other, you never know who you are looking at in situations like that.
Anyways, I just thought I would share something with you guys. Some years ago, while I was a young college student, fresh out of High School, and living at home while I went to the local Jr. College, I took a job with a very busy McDonalds close to where I lived. I took the morning job, the "opening grillman's" position, and as such I showed up for work at 4:00 A.M. to do all the heavy prep work for the kitchen machines. When the kitchen was all spiffed up, serviced, running, and up to temp, I filled in with some stocking work until the place opened, then, I ran the grill until after the big main noon rush.
To make a long story short, this particular McDonald's was directly off of a freeway offramp, and overlooked the freeway. It was always being robbed, especially in the early mornings, few people there, the place wasn't opened yet, and easy get away access. After I had been there a month, and been robbed at gun point three times, I decided I had enough of this non-sense, and started carrying my dad's Ruger 44 Magnum, strapped to my side.
About two days after I started packing the gun, which was open carry, a band of about 3 robbers tried to overpower me in the parking lot when I arrived to work and was walking from my car to the back door to open the place up. Well, I pulled my gun, and fired a warning shot into the ground, a couple of inches from one of the guys foot, kicking up a hole in the asphalt. I shouted out a warning to them, I said to them. "The next guy that makes one motion in my direction gets the next round right through his head !!! Now just back OFF, and go AWAY !!!"
They took my advice, they knew I was deadly serious and wouldn't back down. They backed off, went to their car, and drove off in a hurry.
Like I said, I don't know why the man you saw at the walmart was open carrying, but I do know why I did, once upon a time, and his motivations may be similar to what mine were.
As a side note, I worked at that McDonalds for about a year and a half, open carrying the whole time. During the time I was on duty and carrying, the restaraunt was never again robbed while I was on duty. However, one week after I left, and moved onto another job, the morning roberies of that McDonalds started up again.
Sincerely,
ElvinWarrior... aka... David, "EW"