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Well, Annoyed, it sounds like you and I are on the exact same page.

I am making a leap here, but based on most of the posts I have seen in here, it appears that most of us are pretty level-headed, even-keeled, and thoughtful people. Even a little ironically, satirically humorous people. It is certainly not the thought of folks like us getting together for a little demonstration that is troublesome. Its the possibility, nay, the probability that there are those that would show up and not be able to represent us in the manner inwhich we would like to be represented.

The news would be all over it......and it would most likely not be a pretty picture......

When you look at a car on a lot, you look at it to find the faults. It may have the most reliable engine in the world, all the accessories work very well, clean and nice interior, but that big scratch you see on the outside is an eyesore. The news these days doesn't dig for the whole story, they just report on the obvious stuff that gets their attention, then they beat it to death publicly. They wouldn't focus on the person dressed well with a well-maintained weapon slung on his shoulder, they would zero in on "Big-Mouth Goober", with his multiple weapons and bandoliers of ammo slung over his shoulders, just above the tattoo that says, "I luv mayhem". He would be standing alone because he smells badly, and all the rest gravitate away from him. Easy pickings for the press.

My hero!!

IMHO, of course.....

Mr. Cotton,
As always, your wisdom is certainly notable. I can't imagine a valid reason for an open carry demonstration of firearms under just about any circumstances. If its legal (as in the case of long guns), why demonstrate about it? It would just cause undue attention to other aspects of weapons carry and erode a lot of good work that has been done quietly elsewhere. Any demonstration is, by nature, confrontational in my book and even when for a good cause has great potential to backfire from a political perspective. The person the camera focuses on will not be the lovable grandmother, it will be the rough looking barbarian spouting nastiness.

For those who support handgun open carry, start a petition, get a zillion signatures, start an open carry organization, make it a political issue, etc, etc....contribute to candidates campaigns, have little grandma and others as spokesmen, chosen for their eloquence and demeanor. I would think having a bunch of folks with AR-15s and such bunched up on a sidewalk with signs and such would be counter productive. Perception is reality in an awful lot of cases, and becomes reality for a lot of folks when aired on the nightly news. It is partly how the media is allowed to slant so many stories and get away with it. They choose the pictures/video and edit the dialogue to fit their agenda. It's real easy to fall into their trap. Media contact should be well thought out and calculated. That's why most organizations have dedicated spokesmen.

Be very careful when you ask for attention on an issue. You just might get it.....