I am sorry that happened, especially to you. I know you from the QA section (I'm MEdwards there), so you're definitely not someone who "deserves" that.

Honestly, I wouldn't feel too bad about flaunting the hammer. I don't know Canadian law, but I think as a person, you should have a right to defend yourself, be it a deterrent or otherwise, IMO . Maybe seeing that you're serious about you and your family's safety will deter those kids from doing this again.

They were probably just doing it for the sole intention of getting a jump out of you, kind of similar to doing ding-dong-ditch for the sole purpose of annoying someone. Still not a great intent, sure, but at least it's not...well, I want to say pure malice, but depending on your connotation of the word, that may or may not hold.

At any rate, I'm glad to hear you're okay, and I'm sorry again this happened to you. (((((lynn)))))