Police officials have said Mr. Gray had pointed the loaded weapon at the officers before he was shot several times.

WSJ: Council Member Assails the Police After a Rampage

Pointing a loaded weapon at anybody is grounds for a felony charge of assault, and brandishing a gun in front of a police officer is an affront to law enforcement that is seldom taken lightly.

NEWYORKER: A Loaded Gun

Individual states did recognize a right to travel armed with a musket to meet the legal obligation to attend militia musters, but states and localities regulated the exercise of this right and in some cases prohibited traveling with a loaded weapon or discharging a weapon at or near a muster.

CNN: Put reason back in America's gun debate

According to New York firearms law, if bullets are found next to the weapon, it is considered loaded, Campbell said.

CNN: NFL player accused of having gun at N.Y. airport

Each weapon automatically replenishes its ammunition, but because of the long ammo-reload times, you have to cycle constantly through the weapon list to keep a loaded gun up.

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