Reply #11: "reading in"

[iverglas]

He took someone else's word that the weapon wasn't loaded ...

"Reading in" is a useful tool of statutory construction, but should generally be avoided when reading news reports.

The report said that an audience member was asked to "confirm" that the firearm was not loaded. This suggests to me that the agent had already done his own check, and was showing the firearm to the audience member for a second opinion -- I would read it as meaning that this was so that the audience member could see for him/herself, on behalf of the audience, that it was not loaded. Sorta like a magician gets an audience member to "confirm" that there is nothing in the hat.

But that's just what the words used suggest to me. And I have no idea how anyone could "confirm" that a firearm was unloaded when it must have been loaded. Based on a couple of sentences, I wouldn't form or state a firm opinion, anyhow.

.