As I've commented a few times before, this ain't hardly my first rodeo. Gotta admit, though, that the uproar started right here in the Free State of New Hampshire by William Kostric and then ratcheted up by those ever-lovable Arizona libertarians over open carry at presidential appearances has gone far beyond anything I'd have expected. One of the more successful bits of political theatre I've ever witnessed. Kudos to the folks who brought it off.

I know I am going to miss some of the highlights, but here goes. We've seen Chris Matthews foaming at the mouth while the calm ordinary citizen made him look like a raving loon. Anti-gun editorialists have opined how horrible the icky gunnies were, and how it detracted from the message of the protestors.(Rather missing the point that *I* think the activists made rather effectively, but then I'm not a trained newsie, so I am undoubtedly missing many of the subtle nuances.) Then there's the spectacle of (supposedly) pro-gun editorials fretting about how counterproductive and unwise this open carry protest was.

Perhaps I am old fashioned, but I much preferred the REAL pro-gun editorials gleefully countering every silly point made by both overt and closet hoplophobes. MSNBC got caught with their hand in the cookie jar, when not-so-clever editors carefully cropped video to "prove" their pet theory that all pro-rights advocates are white supremacists... despite the inconvenient truth that the activist toting the AR15 they wanted to use as their poster boy was black. Oh yes, I forgot to mention the Secret Service putting out a statement that the President was never in any danger from legal armed citizens... first sensible thing I've heard out of the Praetorian Guard in years.

I wonder if any of the hoplophobes running around screaming the sky is falling have realized that they have quite successfully spent the last week showing the public that open carry is legal and safe. Not to mention making the point that even in the presence of the Anointed Saviour of the Universe President Barack Obama, we "mere" citizens retain all our unalienable rights. The subtext that there are lines the government crosses at their peril seems to have really been driven home pretty firmly, too.

I'd be willing to wager that the number of people who realize that open carry is even still legal has gone up astronomically thanks to their hysteria. MamaLiberty and a lot of other folks on the web have worked for years to raise awareness about open carry, but Chris Matthews and the other raving hoplophobes in the lamestream media probably informed more people in the past week than everything they've managed to do in the past decade.

It just keeps getting better, too. I ran across a travel editor this morning who's wailing about how unsafe Arizona is with all the folks carrying guns, and not-quite calling for a boycott. Sheesh, wish I'd known it was THAT easy to keep the hoplophobes out. Might be a good way to solve our perennial problem of statist refugees from Massachusetts ruining New Hampshire. I'll have to remember to drop a copy of this article off to Gun Owners New Hampshire, maybe a regular diet of open carry is what we need in these parts.

I didn't catch the clip, but I guess White House spokesthing Robert Gibbs was questioned about the incidents, and made the rather startling admission that "there are laws that govern firearms that are done state or locally, those laws don't change when the president comes to your state or locality." Gosh, ya don't say. Somebody write that down, we're going to be using it for years, though I have to admit to a fair bit of skepticism about any statement made by this particular administration.

Dozens of savvy gunnies on discussion boards across the nation have pointed out quite rightly that there was no violence at either of the events where open carry played such a prominent role. In quite stark contrast to other town hall meetings where there WAS violence, with oddly enough no guns present. It appears that whether the Obama administration is willing to admit it or not, somebody out there understands Robert Heinlein's adage that "An armed society is a polite society".

Now, I don't believe for a heartbeat that any of this represents any sea change on the part of Obama. He's still as anti-gun as ever. But he has just handed us a pretty major public relations bonanza. (Yeah, I am suspicious, too.)

The blogosphere and the news sites are afire with discussions both pro and con. I did a google search using "open carry", "town hall", and "president" as my terms and got 10,800 hits. Not a bad return for a handful of patriots putting their lives on the line.

Let's not kid ourselves, that's exactly what these folks did. I don't personally know any of them, but I know people who DO know them, both here in New Hampshire and in Arizona. All of them are smart, savvy activists, who I am sure are just as aware as I am that the people open carrying at these events quite likely had a Secret Service sniper with a rifle trained on their head the whole time they were out there. It's a pretty sad commentary on the state of our liberty that we're almost certainly correct in that assumption. I figure it well worth recognizing the courage and conviction it takes to stand out there and make your point knowing you probably have someone watching your every move with deadly intent.

Even granting the risks run, though, I think the sheer, starkly silent warning so eloquently issued by these brave patriots was well worth sending. Several newsies have complained that the gun-toting protesters were trying to intimidate people. Now, I think they had that a bit wrong - the only people who should feel intimidated are those of a tyrannical bent. It is rather telling just how freaked out a lot of the media sorts were, don't you think? Think of the snide response we often get about privacy concerns when you read the following: if you have no tyranny to hide, you have nothing to worry about.

All things considered, we haven't heard the last of open carry as a political act. Sadly, we will probably get some less principled sorts cashing in on the idea pretty soon. Or agents provacateur, for that matter. I am hardly the first to predict that we will see more of this. If you decide to join in the fun, PLEASE follow the sterling example set this past week. Safety first and foremost.

I do think the time is probably ripe to roll out the "Open Carry Day" idea that has been floating around for 10 years that I know of. There are a half dozen sites scattered around the web calling for a National Open Carry day, but for whatever reason people have never really agreed on when (or even if) it should happen. Now, if you're asking me, I'd lean pretty heavily toward Election Day, but I've seen at least 4 different dates advocated depending on who you listen to. Whatever day the ravening herd of cats ever decide on, now is probably the best opportunity you're ever going to see to get the idea off the ground. Maybe we should petition President Obama to officially declare the date for us, since he's been such a good sport about the whole thing...

Further reading:
Alan Korwin's "Page 9" commentary on the bias of media who called him for interviews

William Kostric's thoughts after interview with Chris Matthews

GONH director Evelyn Logan talks about events at Portsmouth rally

A video account of violence being deterred at Portsmouth rally (be sure to check out all the other youtube footage associated with this one)

Freetalk live interview discussing the New Hampshire events: