Below is a video of my August 5 open carry incident in Manchester. I was walking to Murphy's Taproom from my car with a holstered Glock 19. Free Staters have a meeting there the first saturday of each month; many open carry. A state trooper was driving by, noticed me and stopped me. I called in to Porcupine 411 (a sort of private 911) and broadcast an announcement of the encounter. The video begins with the first part of the call, audio only. There was a videographer inside setting up to record the meeting. He saw what was happening, came running out after a minute or so; that's where the video picks up.
Open carry is legal in New Hampshire but not super common south of the notches. Cops sometimes ignore, sometimes harass you for doing it. When the latter happens to me, I don't get angry anymore but use the chance to educate police about our open carry rights.
Friends inside the bar also came running out to support me. Police thought it was pre-planned it happened so fast, like they'd been set up or something. But this is just how our guys react when they're nearby. I appreciate the fact that the police were able to maintain calm and respectful demeanor despite some of the anger directed against them by the crowd. This would have been a SWAT event in most states. But of course look I forward to the day when they don't make such stops in the first place without probable cause.
I realize open carry is controversial, but it's an important right, one of the few still respected by law (or lack of law). Rights not exercised atrophy and disappear. Drop our guard and one day we may end up like Texas where you can lose your license if your weapon ever becomes visible. The sight of guns on hips tends to remind criminals in New Hampshire...they're better off committing crimes in Mass.
Note that I am able to lawfully refuse the cops when they ask for my "papers" and personal information. Live Free or Die is not dead yet.
