If the court ruled a choice between concealed or open by choice of the State, How does that pan out? Meaning if a State decides concealed is all they will allow how does one conceal a rifle/shot gun? How is it they could conclude that at least one must be allowed, why not both are expected? That really makes no sense as it can be used to reduce the type of weapons that are carried while further adding to the illusion of an arms free society further exacerbating the intolerance of arms by hiding them. Whereas open carry will cause less people to want to carry...allowing only one form of carry enables the State to manipulate/infringe upon the second amendment in what ever direction they feel more inclined. They can either reduce the number of firearms in public by making them mandatory visible or continue exacerbating the arms intolerance through hiding their existence while disallowing rifles and shotguns. I see that part of the ruling as another form of long term eventual detriment to the carry amendment and flawed at its core with regard to potential alienation of rifles and shotguns (long guns). Perhaps the justice hadn't completely thought that part through to its inevitable end? Anyhow... I'm happy to see some adherence to our Constitution beginning to guide this matter. A rightful ruling overall.
Concealed carry is NEVER legal for long guns, only pistols & revolvers. A long gun would merely have to be carried unloaded in a case for transport, or in places where open carry is legal, in a "non-aggressive, non-brandishing" manner. Also, you couldn't walk around with one in, say, a guitar case, loaded and ready for use.
Open carry is not as "acceptable" in some places, as some people are nervous around a firearm hanging from someones belt or slung over their shoulder while standing in line at a checkout stand.
Open carry can also make you a target. A shooter could target you first if his intent is a mass shooting, or a thief could jump you to try and steal the gun. Concealed carry would lessen those risks.
Most states that have Constitutional open carry do so for certain purposes in mind, such as wearing a handgun while hunting or working a section of land where natural predators may roam. While open carry is legal in the city as well, for the reasons stated above, it might be wiser to choose concealment.
Lastly, in states with open carry, it is not necessary to have a permit. Therefore, if you are visiting from out of state, haven't applied for CCW, and just don't carry all the time, open carry may be your only legal option if you wish to be armed.
For example, I can carry in NC when I visit, but only openly at the moment. When I receive my Maine non-resident CCW permit in the mail, I'll be legal to carry concealed in NC, too. I liked having my pistol in the center console while I drove, especially long road trips, and then being able to clip it on my belt and walk from where I parked to where I was staying. If I went out shopping or to a restaurant, I'd leave it in the trunk locked in a secured case. I can't remember seeing anyone without a badge carrying openly in public. CCW is so easy to obtain there, it just makes sense to get the permit and keep the gun out of plain view..
Any day now!! The backlog for a Maine CCW permit has been horrible. I sent the application in August, my payment cleared in October, and I was reading last week they had completed processing 5,000 backlogged applicant in January!
