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See, this is what gets me and I think is a huge source of what caused this to get so out of control. No where did I allude to driving like a maniac and waving a gun. It sounds like you and many others simply grazed over my OP, formed your own conclusions and then got them reinforced by the responding commenters.

Easy now!!!!

From your original post:

I dropped a gear and sped up (sports car vs truck, duh) to get around him and he began to chase me, tailgating me even as I changed lanes and tried to evade

So If me claiming you were driving like a maniac was embellishing a bit I apologize. But that does describe some dangerous driving nonetheless.

And I didn't say you were waving a gun I said you were brandishing a gun - a term used quite often in many different states laws describing what you did.

Chill down a bit. You have said in several cases that you may have made the wrong decisions and I applaud that.

Sometimes it's just not that easy guys, try and understand that. I'd love to put some of you guys in the same boat and see how well you respond.

And this is where your youth shines through. I grew up on the inner north side of Houston Texas. Went to schools where I was a minority. Attended the Moody Park Riots. I have the scars of stupidity branded on my skin and my ego. And yes I have been in no less than 5 road rage incidents (that I can recall) spanning my lifetime - two that ended in serious accidents (I wasn't the driver of the vehicle in either). Now that I am older I can tell you for certain that my responses and behavior in the ones that I experienced when I was a "kid" were fueled by testosterone and adrenaline. The ones that have occurred in the last 20 years aren't hardly worth mentioning. Once you slow down to 25mph and just smile and wave no one wants to drive beside you for more than a few seconds.

So yes I have been in similar situations and yes my responses were the wrong ones. But with age comes experience and sometimes a little bit of wisdom.

So let me propose this question: what would a cop do if someone did to them what was done to me?

I got a hundred bucks that says you won't see his gun while you are both moving down the freeway no matter how aggressively you drive. You can watch stupid car chases go on for hours on the freeway and you won't see a single cop waving a gun out a window.

Why is the protocol different just because I'm a civilian?

It isn't hardly any different. You should follow the same protocol. Keep it concealed until there is a direct eminent threat. You think that you are in real danger traveling at speed down the freeway? Then pull over and stop. Not likely to get in a crash when you stop. If he stops and corners you and exits his vehicle and approaches your vehicle things change. If he then presents a weapon all bets are off.

What if you were walking down the street and someone tried to run you over could you draw on them? Why or why not?

You really think a bullet is going to stop a 3000lb vehicle? Who has been watching too much Walker Texas Ranger now? You'd better jump your rear out the way. And once the vehicle passes and as long as it keeps going - threat has passed - episode over - no gun required.

I assure you that this was much worse. My fiancee was terrified and for a good 45 seconds I was doing everything I could to dodge drunk drivers and another car intent on harming us.

Everything except pull over and stop. If I was with you and you were driving like that along with another maniac on the road and presenting a weapon I would likely consider jumping out of the vehicle at speed. Kidding of course but you get the point.

My point is this: You let your adrenaline win. You did. Your fiancé flipped out because you were flipping out driving like a maniac and brandishing a gun. You should have remained calm and cool and slowed waaaaaay down and reassured her that you are not letting anyone get hurt. Give her something to do: "Here darlin, take this phone and call 911 and get his plate number while I slow it down". You should have been in total defuse mode - calm and cool and controlled. Don't let anger or testosterone or adrenaline win over and you will make the proper decisions.

ETA: Hey I'm 50 now and as an old fart I can promise I let my anger/testosterone/adrenaline get the best of me on several occasions - got scars to prove it.. It happens. Live and learn. Although you actions got you out of that jam they may not have been the best possible actions.

Living through such an event so you can reflect and learn is priceless. If you want to debate your actions then you are not likely to ever see anything wrong in the way you acted and hence may miss out on the learning experience.

Best of luck.