[An Old Man]

John, Thanks for posting the article. I found the following text near the end to be most interesting, especially the question posed at the end.

Now at this point, I should rush to point out that I am an avid supporter of concealed carry laws and am not in any way downplaying their public policy benefits. The concealed carry movement that has swept the nation over the last two decades has done more to prevent crime and empower law-abiding citizens than any other public policy movement in my lifetime. But this does not change the fact that the founding fathers bore their arms openly and proudly and wrote the 2nd Amendment in that context.

Therefore, when 2nd Amendment supporters attack open carry as detrimental to the concealed carry movement, they are advocating sacrificing a right for a privilege.

Is that a deal we are really ready to make?

[itsahoot]

Is that a deal we are really ready to make?

Already been done. Look at the new legislation jammed into the stimulus bill.

[Skibane]

Therefore, when 2nd Amendment supporters attack open carry as detrimental to the concealed carry movement, they are advocating sacrificing a right for a privilege.

Advocating the licensing of ANY aspect of gun ownership - concealed carry, machine guns, silencers, handguns, short-barreled rifles or whatnot - helps codify the 2nd Amendment as a privilege rather than a right.