I've known of people who would take their monitors on leashed walks that they seemed to really enjoy, but that was on private property without a bunch of frightened or over-enthusiastic people around.
EDIT: Some pet store employees don't even like reptiles. I got my first snake because he escaped and the cashier told me I could have him for free if I could catch him because she was afraid to handle the snakes. And this was a newborn garter... So, like, smaller than your typical nightcrawler.
