gun free theaters

My wife and I went to see A Walk in the Woods yesterday at a theater we have been to many times, this time was a little different. When we got to the 19 or 20 year old girl taking tickets, she informed us that she needed to check my wife's bag for guns and knives as the theater now had a no weapons policy. So my wife opened the bag, the girl shines her flashlihgt over it briefly and we were on our way. It brought a couple of questions immediately to mind, such as:

1) Would this girl know a gun or knife if she saw one?

2) What would she do if she did?

3) Is the special needs kid we usually hand our tickets to a security screener now too, or is he out of a job?

Any way about it, I sure felt safer.

I had this happen too. They didn't take the water my wife smuggled in. It is unfortunate that we have to do this and it will probably be another nail in the idea of movie theaters.

...maybe they had a ready-to-go SWAT team just out of sight in the projector room?

Now I am wanting to go to a movie just to see what they will do.

I agree, those precautions are pretty silly.

Allow me my senior Andy Rooney moment as it fits in perfectly with this thread.

One of my long time pet peeves is people and their behavior in movie theaters. Years ago when I was a kid - (I was born in 1949) we had people called USHERS who patrolled the aisles and told you to shut up and knock it off if you talked during the film. The idea was very simple: people were paying some of their hard earned money to watch a movie and the patrons in other seats were not part of that entertainment. But over the years its not kids so much that are the problem - its adults who do not like to be told by anybody to shut up and knock it off.

So how do we handle it today? Simple. The volume is turned up loud enough to drown out even the most obnoxious loudmouth from any distance beyond a row or two. So most people never even hear the offending motormouths. And then we have the cute announcements in front of the movie telling us to be quiet and turn off our cell phones and basically don't be a buttwipe and respect your fellow movie goers.

And lots of people have stopped going to the movies in favor of large TV's at home with great sound systems an no idiots bothering them. I myself rarely go to the theater and even then I go early in the day and it has to be some big epic type film that needs the large screen and all the state of the art extras that come with it. If I am going to see a drama or comedy, I would just as soon see it on my own big screen at home.

So now we have another reason not to go to the movies - would be killers picking off the crowd. And people are scared.

I have a solution that I have been touting for years.

Up in the corner of the theater next to the screen in the upper regions of the theater, we build a small snipers nest. When somebody talks or acts out of turn, they shine a red light upon them as a warning. The next time they talk, the sniper goes into action shooting them in the chest where the red light had previously been as a warning that was unheeded. And I want a really loud ass gun that makes a hell of a lot of noise and is messy when it does its job. Then the lights would come on, the film would stop and an usher (remember them?) would walk down the aisle and place a placard on a string around the neck of the deceased with the words I TALKED on it in big letters. The lights would go off and the film come back and I promise you nobody would talk again.

Now my plan was designed to cut down on poor behavior. But now it can also be used to defend patrons against Colorado/Batman type wanna be killers. My sniper would simply shoot them dead as soon as they got off their first shot. Oh - and my sniper is behind a protective barrier so he cannot be the first victim. Its a win win situation for everybody but the would be killers.......... and the loudmouths who cannot control themselves.

I just may start going to the movies again.

tech30528 said:

My wife and I went to see A Walk in the Woods yesterday at a theater we have been to many times, this time was a little different. When we got to the 19 or 20 year old girl taking tickets, she informed us that she needed to check my wife's bag for guns and knives as the theater now had a no weapons policy. So my wife opened the bag, the girl shines her flashlihgt over it briefly and we were on our way. It brought a couple of questions immediately to mind, such as:

1) Would this girl know a gun or knife if she saw one?

2) What would she do if she did?

3) Is the special needs kid we usually hand our tickets to a security screener now too, or is he out of a job?

Any way about it, I sure felt safer.

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You are probably overthinking all of this. The theater made a decision and you have every right to continue to see movies there or no longer go to that theater because of. As to your questions she may have had some degree of training on what to look for but depending on experience may have been rather taken back if she ever finds someone carrying a weapon. The special needs kid question I have no comment on.

tech30528 said:

My wife and I went to see A Walk in the Woods yesterday at a theater we have been to many times, this time was a little different. When we got to the 19 or 20 year old girl taking tickets, she informed us that she needed to check my wife's bag for guns and knives as the theater now had a no weapons policy. So my wife opened the bag, the girl shines her flashlihgt over it briefly and we were on our way. It brought a couple of questions immediately to mind, such as:

1) Would this girl know a gun or knife if she saw one?

2) What would she do if she did?

3) Is the special needs kid we usually hand our tickets to a security screener now too, or is he out of a job?

Any way about it, I sure felt safer.

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I laughed when they started doing that stupid crap at my theatre. I laughed because I carried my handgun right in. It made the guy checking a little uncomfortable. I also noticed they aren't doing it anymore. I wonder if someone gave them the message that their sign is pointless in the state of Florida and that the only thing they can do is ask us to leave.

Or maybe they just aren't serious about security. That would be my guess. A token display.

stonewall50 said:

I laughed when they started doing that stupid crap at my theatre. I laughed because I carried my handgun right in. It made the guy checking a little uncomfortable. I also noticed they aren't doing it anymore. I wonder if someone gave them the message that their sign is pointless in the state of Florida and that the only thing they can do is ask us to leave.

Or maybe they just aren't serious about security. That would be my guess. A token display.

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This. They didn't even check me, and I walked thru with a pistol, a knife and a spare magazine. Who the hell wants to go to a theater with no way to protect themselves considering all the nut jobs out there? If they made it enforceable I wouldn't be going anymore.

tech30528 said:

This. They didn't even check me, and I walked thru with a pistol, a knife and a spare magazine. Who the hell wants to go to a theater with no way to protect themselves considering all the nut jobs out there? If they made it enforceable I wouldn't be going anymore.

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I think it's sexist discrimination, in order to enjoy a movie without being searched a woman must cross dress and not carry a purse.

Us men don't worry, especially overweight men like myself, 38 waist cargo pants have 7 really deep pockets with more carrying capacity then a purse and don't get searched

Just one question. Who over the age of 16 goes to the movies anymore?

Am surprised anyone still goes with the popularity of Redbox and Netflix. I guess the teen market will always be a target as teens can't go to a bar to hangout so the movies is the next best thing they got.

No theatres will ever be safe after Aurora.

There will be plenty of copycats to come.

There have already been numerous copycats of the Stockton AK47 school shooter.

One psycho comes up with an idea and dozens of other psycho's copy cat.

Crosscheck said:

Just one question. Who over the age of 16 goes to the movies anymore?

Am surprised anyone still goes with the popularity of Redbox and Netflix. I guess the teen market will always be a target as teens can't go to a bar to hangout so the movies is the next best thing they got.

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I would like to see the upcoming Moby Dick remake coming out soon.

AliHajiSheik said:

I had this happen too. They didn't take the water my wife smuggled in. It is unfortunate that we have to do this and it will probably be another nail in the idea of movie theaters.

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I can always sneak a flask of rum in with me inside my inner jacket pocket.

Crosscheck said:

Just one question. Who over the age of 16 goes to the movies anymore?

Am surprised anyone still goes with the popularity of Redbox and Netflix. I guess the teen market will always be a target as teens can't go to a bar to hangout so the movies is the next best thing they got.

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Well I'm 46 and we still go. Been waiting a while for this movie, really wanted to see it on the big screen. I have hiked on the AT many times and the scenery just doesn't translate to my 19 inch TV at home. Likewise the Transformer movies and Jurassic park. The Bryson movie was pretty good BTW, although I was disappointed they didn't have the scene with Katz throwing stuff in to the woods on the first big climb (that was some funny stuff), but I recognized a lot of the locations, including the hotel they stayed at. Their timeframe was a bit skewed though, they had scenes in the Smokies and then the hotel, which is in Franklin. There were two scenes shot here at Mt Yonah (which is not on the AT), I live on the back side of that mountain.

tech30528 said:

My wife and I went to see A Walk in the Woods yesterday at a theater we have been to many times, this time was a little different. When we got to the 19 or 20 year old girl taking tickets, she informed us that she needed to check my wife's bag for guns and knives as the theater now had a no weapons policy. So my wife opened the bag, the girl shines her flashlihgt over it briefly and we were on our way. It brought a couple of questions immediately to mind, such as:

1) Would this girl know a gun or knife if she saw one?

2) What would she do if she did?

3) Is the special needs kid we usually hand our tickets to a security screener now too, or is he out of a job?

Any way about it, I sure felt safer.

Click to expand...

I'm surprised they even care about knives, must be a southern thing, here in the PNW people walk around with visible pocket clips or multi tool holsters everywhere, they'd be barring many customers enforcing a no knife policy

Riveroaks said:

I can always sneak a flask of rum in with me inside my inner jacket pocket.

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Isn't that illegal? Open liquor in public?

I just wear cargo pants, you can stuff the leg pockets full of candy bars and soda cans and no one will know

EMNofSeattle said:

I'm surprised they even care about knives, must be a southern thing, here in the PNW people walk around with visible pocket clips or multi tool holsters everywhere, they'd be barring many customers enforcing a no knife policy

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Yeah, I often have people ask me how many knives I an carrying. I tell them just one and leave it at that. The confusion comes from two pocket clips on my right side, one of them is actually a pistol. But people don't seem to figure that out.

A gun free zone, without serious (and expensive) security personnel to enforce it, is a silly idea. Once the mass shooter realizes that they need only not carry a gun (or two) visible in their purse they will still include that location as a prime setting for their deranged plot. You made no mention of any search/pat-down of either her person or your own. Since the vast majority of mass shooters carry no purse then that "feel good" purse survey will likely deter just about none of them.

Perhaps a better deterrent would be a sign directing armed patrons to please refrain from brandishing their guns because the sniper in the projection booth is new and quite nervous. That may cause a potential mass shooter to think about choosing a place that is less likely to include armed resistance.

tech30528 said:

Well I'm 46 and we still go. Been waiting a while for this movie, really wanted to see it on the big screen. I have hiked on the AT many times and the scenery just doesn't translate to my 19 inch TV at home. Likewise the Transformer movies and Jurassic park. The Bryson movie was pretty good BTW, although I was disappointed they didn't have the scene with Katz throwing stuff in to the woods on the first big climb (that was some funny stuff), but I recognized a lot of the locations, including the hotel they stayed at. Their timeframe was a bit skewed though, they had scenes in the Smokies and then the hotel, which is in Franklin. There were two scenes shot here at Mt Yonah (which is not on the AT), I live on the back side of that mountain.

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I saw the ads for Walk in the Woods and thought about it but have been so disappointed so many times. Maybe at age 64 I am jaded but often I find the previews are the best part of the movie and everything from there is filler material.

As I said before I think the movie theaters are for teens but for a teen date they can be pretty pricey too. The only way I see the movie theater surviving is 3D on a big screen.

Here's why this is absolute utter nonsense if not downright dangerous.

What if some maniac carried seveal high capacity handguns strapped to their ankles? Are those 18 year old security "professionals" checking pants legs?

I worked in theaters for many years.
Theaters ALL have BACK DOORS as required by LAW. Usually two, one on each side of the screen behind the curtains for emergency exit.

Now, if a terrorist or deranged person wanted to kill a lot of sitting ducks in theaters, can you think of any easy ways they could get weapons inside?

You do the math (or thinking)

Good luck. Got life insurance?

I live in one of the largest Cities in Australia and I love going to the movies. Fortunately we don't have a gun culture here. The only thing that has ever really bothered me at the movies is when the movie is screening and people won't leave their mobile phones alone. That can get annoying.

Crosscheck said:

Just one question. Who over the age of 16 goes to the movies anymore?

Am surprised anyone still goes with the popularity of Redbox and Netflix. I guess the teen market will always be a target as teens can't go to a bar to hangout so the movies is the next best thing they got.

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Lots of people. My wife and I go all the time. It's a much different experience than just watching a movie at home. Especially action movies.

gun free theaters

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realistically, they are probably going to start running people through metal detectors. it's a massive liability for theater chains, and nutters choose theaters because there are a lot of people in a confined space with limited ability to escape. yeah, i know, you want to be the one carrying so you can take out the shooter, but most of the people who carry a gun into the theater are going to be untrained and trying to shoot a single moving target in the dark. the nutball, on the other hand, is firing indiscriminately into a crowd. seems like it's a better idea to have metal detectors and trained security guards in street clothes to discourage this nonsense. it will cost the theaters some money, but this **** just keeps happening.

Crosscheck said:

Just one question. Who over the age of 16 goes to the movies anymore?

Am surprised anyone still goes with the popularity of Redbox and Netflix. I guess the teen market will always be a target as teens can't go to a bar to hangout so the movies is the next best thing they got.

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Me. I LOVE the movies. Big screen, dead center. Some movies are just better on the big screen.

EMNofSeattle said:

I'm surprised they even care about knives, must be a southern thing, here in the PNW people walk around with visible pocket clips or multi tool holsters everywhere, they'd be barring many customers enforcing a no knife policy

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Yea. Everyone has a knife in the south (except me...gun takes up too much room lol).

ttwtt78640 said:

A gun free zone, without serious (and expensive) security personnel to enforce it, is a silly idea. Once the mass shooter realizes that they need only not carry a gun (or two) visible in their purse they will still include that location as a prime setting for their deranged plot. You made no mention of any search/pat-down of either her person or your own. Since the vast majority of mass shooters carry no purse then that "feel good" purse survey will likely deter just about none of them.

Perhaps a better deterrent would be a sign directing armed patrons to please refrain from brandishing their guns because the sniper in the projection booth is new and quite nervous. That may cause a potential mass shooter to think about choosing a place that is less likely to include armed resistance.

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I laughed out loud at that one. Then tried to explain it to my coworker...I don't think she understood