If a firearm is used in a dispute but intended to intimidate rather than injure, what offense can be charged?

The correct charge in this situation is related to "deadly conduct." This offense is applicable when an individual uses a firearm with the intent to intimidate or cause fear in another person, even if there's no intention to actually cause physical harm. The law recognizes that the use of a deadly weapon to instill fear or intimidation poses a significant risk to public safety and can escalate a situation that may lead to harmful outcomes.

Deadly conduct covers scenarios where a person knowingly engages in conduct that puts others in danger of serious bodily injury or uses a deadly weapon in a way that creates a substantial risk of harm, even if the primary intention was not to injure someone physically. This acknowledges the potential for firearms to create fear and threaten safety within a community.

In contrast, other options like reckless conduct or assault with a deadly weapon pertain to different nuances of intention and the resultant harm or risk posed to individuals, which may not align as closely with the stated intent of intimidation without injury. Thus, deadly conduct is the most fitting charge for a situation where a firearm is used to intimidate.