Flare guns

[David B]

Excuse me if this has been raised before, but a search has not revealed anything, so I ask now.
As I understand it, a flare gun is still regarded as a pyrotechnic in most of Europe (the Med is my main interest at the moment) and therefore not regarded as a gun.
Does anyone have any experience regarding 'issues' with carrying a flare gun and flares with their safety kit?
Next question, any experience as a deterent to attack or boarding by hostile/desperate parties?
My wife and I sail alone, and a few stories we picked up on recently in face to face discussions at the dock (one motor cruiser was chased for over an hour between North Africa and Malta before the chasers gave up), we are thinking we need to consider ways of deterring such people if it ever happens to us (after all, being chased, what chance does a sailboat have ?)
Would be interested to learn of others experiences.

[cal40john]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-NNlMnJ8fg

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ing-28243.html

http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/81261418/

This is how it works in the movies though

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ymseTCQ-xw