[Liberal Classic]

The phrase you are looking for is "precipitous act." Brandishing a weapon is a precipitous act directed towards someone else. If I point my pistol at you, then you are rightful to fear for your life. I don't have to pull the trigger for a crime to have been committed. This is wrong, this is an example of assault, this is a crime.

However, some of your other examples are less clear.

[Texaggie79]

If I point my pistol at you, then you are rightful to fear for your life.

Give me the statistics and proof. Just saying that it is a threat is no good. I want the proof that the amount of threat posed by a gun pointed in my direction is a threat punishable by law. I want to know the exact distance one must be from me with the gun (surely a gun pointed at me from 50 miles away is not enough of a threat), I want to know the exact caliber of weapon. Tell me. Show me the legal documents supporting such claim.