Open carriers show off two major things, and neither one of them are "tough guy".
First is fragile masculinity, they are worried that they aren't seen as "manly" enough, so they have to show off to everyone that they are totally manly. It's like women wearing that new handbag out and about, they want others to notice it.
Second is pure fear, fear that at any time any moment something is going to happen, and the only way they feel safe is by carrying a lethal weapon with them at all times. You know, rather than dealing with what is causing the fear in the first place.
So, we have a terrified person carrying a lethal weapon who is worried about what everyone around them think. To me, that's the more worrying person in a room.
"Thank god you're here, man openly carrying! I feel so much safer around you!"
"Heh. Yeah, I'm sure. People respect me when I'm carrying."
"Oh, no, I don't mean it like that. I mean that if an actual gunman starts shooting, you're a much higher priority target, giving me enough time to run away. Thank you for painting a target on yourself for us!"
Yeah you definitely get a daily carry that's under 600 bucks. Even that's a lot. You get your nice gun in that evidence locker and you aren't ever getting it back.
I carry a gun. Inside my waistband and under a shirt like a fucking adult. Open carrying out in the wilderness, for work or on a range is understandable.
Randos carrying in public is pure cringe and is super counterproductive to the goal of practical responsible gun ownership as I see it.
I was getting into my car the other day and noticed someone getting out of their car and putting a pistol into their wasteband. Looked like they were going into a Buffalo wild wings or something. Like, are you gonna shoot someone in there or what?
My thing is, you're usually introducing a firearm into a situation where there likely wasn't one previously, and are putting at risk the lives of everyone around you. I own a firearm and I hope every day I never ever have to use it outside of recreation. Most gun owners are exceptionally irresponsible and don't give weapons their due respect, this is half the reason so many people get shot for no reason in the US.
I live in a country where carrying weapons isn't a thing. But being that it's lawfull in the country where this comic is supposedly happening can you imagine walking into a bar and some random chick starts screaming at you like that?
Imagine if instead of a chick screaming about the guy it would be a guy screaming about a chick with purple hair?
There are actual reasons for people to open carry a gun. Main goal is to normalize it. Where I live a lot of people open carry, and it's no big deal, no one really cares or notices.
My neighbor moved here from California though, and she was initially terrified every time she saw someone carrying a gun here. But after awhile she got used to it as well. I haven't asked her what her current opinion is on guns, but I know she went from terrified to not caring, which would be considered a positive change from the people who are open carrying around town.
That said, I don't get the impression that most people who open carry are doing it for that reason, usually seems like it more because they want to show off.