Hey everyone, I just read this and thought I could throw in my $0.02.
I am a current LEO from Florida. Certainly, I can't say what the laws would be in another state, and am not about to offer official "legal advice" in any capacity. Verify everything for yourself, within your own jurisdiction before making any decision.
This is all just FYI, from my experiences. That being said, some thoughts from a Florida LEO: just be reasonable and responsible and there is very little chance it will be a problem. Beyond that, some advice on being reasonable and responsible:
Many of the irrational sheep-like citizens of our society are terrified of guns and will call us like they just saw North Koreans invading, when they see an openly carried firearm. Know the laws in your area. If you are in an open carry state, you should be covered, but also, know the people and area. If you know it's legal to open carry, but you get this strange feeling like it's a bad idea, it probably is! (In Florida, open carry is only authorized, to/from/during a hunting, fishing or camping expedition). Keep in mind, it is still possible to violate other weapons related laws in an open carry state, like "Reckless Display."
Open carry map:
http://www.opencarry.org/?page_id=103 **VERIFY THIS INFORMATION BEFORE YOU GO “RIDE OUT” WITH YOUR WEAPON**
Also, if there is a question of legality to and from the parade, cover it up and be safe. While nearly every LEO I work with is reasonable enough to understand that a maintained military vehicle with a matching weapon is a collectable, not a threat. “Nearly every,” however, is not a statistic I (personally) would try my odds with. Keep in mind though, many cops, reasonable or otherwise, that have been in the field for a fair amount of time have been shot at, and if not, have definitely seen more than their share of shootings, stabbings, and other violent deaths. Forgive us if we are a little cautious around tools designed to kill things. If you do meet up with Officer Unreasonable, be the reasonable one. In every job, there is that guy. If you meet that guy, be patient; explain to him what you have and what you are doing with it. There is almost no chance of him taking it any further. If he is considering turning nothing into something, a pissing match will only ensure his decision is not in your favor.
And lastly, I don’t know how many states this applies to, but in Florida, many firearms related laws apply equally to replica/perceived firearms. Therefore, don’t assume that open carry laws do not apply to your replica, or non-functioning weapon. VERIFY, don’t assume.
My personal opinion is that any citizen who conducts himself lawfully should be allowed (and encouraged) to carry in whichever manner is most convenient to him or her. The Second Amendment was put in place for a good reason. Unfortunately, personal opinions don’t carry much weight matched up against state/federal laws.
