What physical response may occur from pointing a firearm at an individual?

Pointing a firearm at an individual typically provokes a high-stress situation that can lead to a variety of physical and emotional responses. Anxiety is a common reaction as the act of aiming a weapon can signify a threat to life and safety. This heightened state of alertness can trigger the body’s fight-or-flight response, resulting in symptoms such as increased heart rate, sweating, and elevated adrenaline levels.

While calmness might be felt in some individuals under specific circumstances, it is generally not a typical response in situations involving firearms. Confidence might arise in someone who is perceived to have control over the situation, but that does not usually reflect the feelings of the person on the receiving end of a firearm. Indifference is unlikely as well, since being threatened with a gun typically elicits a strong emotional reaction, contrary to feelings of being unaffected or indifferent. Therefore, anxiety manifests as the most natural and expected response in such high-stress scenarios.