From ORC 2923.126:
You have no duty to notify if you are open carrying, regardless of where you are.
This does not apply if you and your gun are in or on a motor vehicle.
My problem with that line of reasoning is that one can't open carry in a bar without a license or am I mistaken on that? If that's correct then the person is carrying, open or concealed, on the privilege of that license. As such, they would be subject to the duties of said license; to wit, duty to inform.
Possible examples of duty to inform vs. open carry: (The first two are related more to my holster question thread but still kissing cousins to this one.)
- Someone thinks that they are lawfully open carrying in a flap holster. Officer believes otherwise and cites the carrier for not informing about CHL in the beginning of the encounter.
- Someone is open carrying in a retention holster that covers most of the firearm, doesn't inform, and officer takes legal issue with it.
- Someone is in a bar and an officer asks questions of the individual. Open carrying and not thinking about a CHL, the person fails to promptly disclose that they have a CHL and, obviously enough but good practice, is currently armed. The officer gets a bee in his bonnet and decides that the carrier didn't notify until after the officer asked. (A toned down version of Harless except that the open carrier is on foot and doesn't actually try to notify.)
- Someone is open carrying in Jungle Jim's (or wherever that they have a class D) while a wine tasting is in progress, unnoticed by the carrier. Officer approaches and demands to see the person's CHL (Ala Officer Kelly and Harleys&Guns). Carrier thinks he doesn't have to produce because of open carry and officer believes the suspect must due to the class D license and the wine tasting.
These might appear as inconsequential details, however, I've had small details create issues in other situations (not related to carry). It takes time, frustration, and money to sort these things out. Not to mention that anytime there is a disagreement during a stop involving a firearm there is a certain amount of danger for both parties.
How this ties into the OP is that this involves the need for a CHL to carry into a class D licensed establishment. Although one can choose to carry openly, I was asking about duty to inform in such a circumstance when the establishment may be dispensing.
Hopefully, duty to inform goes away and at least that part of the equation disappears. But the issue of if a carrier must produce a CHL to an officer when requested even though the person is open carrying in such a situation doesn't.