To say it's pointless to open carry a long gun is opinion. I'd guess no one would have tried to mug him, and if that was what he wanted, than he achieved it. Any open carry in a metro area is likely to cause panic. There are a couple big reasons. What it should be is, will that person handle the weapon safely? I don't feel many people do, and I myself would be concerned. More likely though, is the news terrifying the viewers with anything gun related. And so, lawfull or not, having a gun in a populated area makes people think you are there to shoot them. People just don't open carry much. And because the majority of people don't see someone with a gun everyday, they only think the bad. The flipsde is, those who want to exercise their right, are flexing a right so close to extinction, they cause panic and get labled extremists. Carrying a weapon is a lot of responsibility, and a long gun makes it ten times more the detail to be safe. People get lazy and tired. Carrying a long gun for any extended period of time, starts to suck quite a bit. Now it's a burdon, you want to put it down. It's in the way, and anytime you move it, someone will say you flagged them. Positive control of the weapon and safety all become factor that may not have been taken into consideration by someone trying to exercise their rights. Especially if they are just doing it to demonstrate and make a point. Having spent years with a gun attached to me, I have seen trained people make mistakes by leaving their weapon some place or being careless with it. To the point where, I think I would have to ask someone what they are doing if I saw anyone open carry. Reintegrateing many people having a gun on their hip in public, as they did long ago, is unlikely to happen. Understand that there is always a threat and not always the best way to deal with it. Some people choose to openly display they have the means to protect themselves. In today's environment in the US, most of society is scared of any gun in public.