The NYT is all upset because the pieces are starting to fall off its pretty, black toy. The problem, as you point out is not open carry. The problem is the tone and content of communication from the March organizers.
The march organizers knew long guns were being carried and did nothing to stop it. Why? Because intimidation and implied violence was their intent. The open carry issue, to the extent it is an issue, falls on the organizers and the March participants.
Freepers marched in Dallas in nearly the same spot against Gore during the 2000 recount. I know, I was one of the marchers, carrying a sign. Open carry of long guns was legal and a common tactic of black demonstrators even then. No Freepers in that March displayed a long gun. If anyone had, the Freepers who organized the march, as well as Freeper marchers would have put a stop to it. I know big would have. I’d love to hear comments from any other Texas Freepers who were there.
I know I was afraid of violence against us as marchers. So I left my CHL carry gun locked in the car. I did not want to have anyone say that because I had a gun, I must have started or participated in the shooting.
Oops, hit post instead of preview on that last one. I know I would have stopped anyone from carrying a long gun, or it would have left the march. We were peaceably assembling for redress of grievances, as was our Constitutional right. Openly carrying weapons detracts from that. The BLM toys of the left and the NYT had no intention of doing that, and they are reaping what they sowed.