TR,
I agree with you 100% that CC carry eliminates any potential problems. Afterall, concealed means CONCEALED! And it is up to the individual about how far he is willing to fight the system for his rights. As a matter of fact, I just surrendered a LEGALLY registered NFA weapon to BATF last week after I found that Virginia passed a law banning the Striker 12 shotgun.
BATF supported my contention that my NFA AOW Striker was NOT a shotgun and was therefore protected under both state and federal law. VSP didn't agree. They said I could legally possess a "short-barrelled weapon" under state law but not a Striker 12. I bought this NFA weapon in 1991 and it was banned by an administrative pen in 1994, when I was in Bosnia.
BATF offered to write in Virginia AG in my behalf, but I decided to surrender the weapon to ATF because in addition to it being a Class 6 felony to possess in Virginia, it is also a Class 6 felony to sell or TRANSFER the weapon to anyone! If I turned it in to VSP, I would be guilty of a Class 6 FEDERAL felony! I was in quite a pickle! The stroke of an administrative pen turned me, a former LEO into an unknowing felon.
I couldn't take the risk of arrest, attorney's costs, loss of my TS/SCI and my job. It really sucked, but it was the only way out.
Again, while I agree with you professionally and TACTICALLY against open carry, in Virginia there is no other choice until we get a new governor. Once that occurs and the law is finally changed I will most likely never OC again. But until then there is no other choice.
Does NC prohibit CC in restaurants?