[Valin]

Thus the 2nd amendment, while clearly granting us the right to bear arms, does not clearly give us the right to carry concealed arms.

No flame intended, but why the problem with concealed?

[dark_lord]

I am personally strongly in favor of the concept of carrying concealed weapons. Thus I don't have a problem with it -- rather I favor it. I merely point out that this is not a right guaranteed by the 2nd amendment. Carrying concealed firearms was not common at all in those days. Arms were carried openly when they were carried. So....if one desires to carry concealed weapons the 2nd amendment is not a good basis upon which to base an argument that it is a good idea.

[jdege]

In the early 19th century, there was an assumption that anyone who was carrying openly was an upstanding citizen, while anyone carrying concealed had criminal intent.

So the first gun control laws forbade carrying concealed.

There were state court decisions that found these laws to be unconstitutional and others that found them not to be.