The difference is, cops are employees of the State. They shouldn't have the luxury of saying "oh, that man is suspicious simply because he has a firearm, it's going to get stolen" then prone him out as a result and find it funny because HE'S not a gun guy. I don't give a shit WHAT kind of a guy he is. If you have questions about my firearm, ask me. Otherwise, move along. Prone me out and laugh about it on faceplant? I'm going for your job. You aren't fit to have it.
It sounds like they're making two separate points about the behavior of the open carriers and the threat of their unloaded gun being stolen. But in the article that terraformer linked to, it wasn't a case of a cop driving by the guy on the street and stopping to hassle him. They were responding to a 911 call for a man with a gun who wasn't wanted on the property by management. They don't have the option of not responding to 911 calls, especially when a private citizen wants an armed patron removed.
Now, why would anyone need to carry an assault rifle in the downtown area? It is perfectly within their rights, but why do it? Again, it's not about the scary guns, but practicality. Now open carrying a sidearm is reasonable.....a very practical self defense weapon for personal carry.
Someone like Carl Drega would be a great reason to carry an "assault rifle" in a downtown area of NH.
Mike, I support their right.....but sometimes you also need to use your head. Just because they can do it doesn't mean they should.
Funny, you could apply that statement to open carry in general...