Which of the following would NOT be punished under assault statutes?

The correct answer highlights situations that fall outside the scope of physical actions typically covered under assault statutes. In this context, a verbal threat, while potentially harmful and alarming, does not involve actual physical contact or an attempt to inflict bodily harm. Assault laws primarily focus on acts that involve an intention to cause physical injury or the reasonable apprehension of such injury.

In contrast, actions like pushing, grabbing, or punching involve physical interaction and can be considered assault even if they do not result in injury. Each of these physical acts demonstrates an intention to cause harm or instill fear, thus fitting within the definition of assault. Therefore, the absence of physical contact in verbal threats distinguishes it from the other actions listed, which are all punishable under assault statutes.