VA has had both open-carry and concealed carry. It's been that way for many years and ya know what.... the world hasn't exploded.
Open-carry is a good way to get harassed by cops though. It's something people know is "legal" and don't give people a hard time about generally but you can easily get the boot from a store or something if they don't want you there.
Here in SC, no permit is required for loaded gun in your glovebox or console. It doesn't have to be locked either. Yet for some reason, we don't have people getting shot on the highway all the time.
Anyway, you are perfectly free not to exercise your rights to bear arms. I support you being unarmed. Last I checked though, both keeping and BEARING arms are a right. Not a privilege. Not something you get to take away from people that you think are weird or it will make people feel comfortable. It's as fundamental as the right to free speech. If they shoot someone by accident or without cause, we already have laws against manslaughter/murder/discharging firearms/etc.
On the flip side.... a lot of what these people are doing is not "Open Carry".... it's brandishing. A pistol in a holster or rifle on a sling behind the back is "Open Carry". waving your gun around with a finger outside the trigger guard is brandishing. As a gun owner that SUPPORTS open carry.... this pisses me off. Do people not teach their kids gun safety anymore?