It's a very good mental exercise to go through all these "what if's". Most of us never even think of all these ramifications until we've been in such a situation. My experience was very similar. Honking the horn.. other driver turns into enraged maniac.. confrontation was similar. The only difference in my case was that this guy wanted me to shoot him. He stood in the middle of the road in front of my truck screaming "shoot me!". With no visible weapon in his hands, and no damage to me or my truck, I knew I couldn't do it yet. He saw my gun and was not afraid. He was calling my bluff and it became a stand off until he finally drove away.
If I had been a small female, I could have shot him the moment he approached my vehicle and no jury would convict. But because I am a large man, and he had no visible weapon, it would not have been justified.
In my case, the officer that responded suggested to me that holding the gun in my hand was not the best course of action. Instead, I should have laid it on the seat next to me or on the dash board within easy reach. That way, the perp can still see it but it's not technically brandishing. If he produces a weapon, I would then have to grab mine and fire in response. Not a scenario that seems fair to me, but it's the way our justice system works.
If I had been a small female, I could have shot him the moment he approached my vehicle and no jury would convict. But because I am a large man, and he had no visible weapon, it would not have been justified.
In my case, the officer that responded suggested to me that holding the gun in my hand was not the best course of action. Instead, I should have laid it on the seat next to me or on the dash board within easy reach. That way, the perp can still see it but it's not technically brandishing. If he produces a weapon, I would then have to grab mine and fire in response. Not a scenario that seems fair to me, but it's the way our justice system works.