Type 1 brandishing of a firearm involves which of the following?

• A. Point, brandish, or hold a firearm or object similar in appearance to reasonably induce fear
• B. In a public place
• C. Only if the weapon is loaded
• D. Point, brandish, or hold any firearm or object similar in appearance, whether or not it be capable of being fired, to reasonably induce fear

Answer: (D)

Type 1 brandishing centers on displaying a firearm or an object that looks like a firearm in a way that reasonably induces fear in another person. The crucial point is that the danger comes from the display itself, not from firing the weapon. Because it covers items whether or not they can actually fire, it includes unloaded guns and replicas or look-alikes. That breadth is what makes the option describing “any firearm or object similar in appearance, whether or not it be capable of being fired, to reasonably induce fear” the best choice.

The other options fall short because they either omit the possibility of inert replicas or unloaded weapons, restrict the act to certain locations like a public place, or require the weapon to be loaded.