It may take a while to get use to someone next to you in the grocery store with a visible gun.

That’s why a newly-formed group is launching a public awareness campaign before the new open carry law begins on November 1^{st, 2012}.

Franklin Smith is a former police officer, veteran and one of the founders of the Oklahoma Open Carry Association.

He says the people who openly carry are law-abiding citizens.

Smith says, "The truth is that criminals just don't open carry their firearms."

Hear Smith's entire interview.

He says he knows because he was part of another start-up organization in Michigan to increase awareness.

"We just need to normalize it. In Michigan it was easy to do because the laws were less restrictive."

That's why Smith and a couple of other gun owners started the Oklahoma Open Carry Association on May 22nd.

"So, this new open carry law is not going to lead to an increase in guns on the street. It's not going to lead to an increase in violence."