Chain of Movie Houses Branches Out to Security Theater

Chain of Movie Houses Branches Out to Security Theater

Friday, August 21, 2015

https://www.nraila.org/articles/20150821/chain-of-movie-houses-branches-out-to-security-theater

Thanks to a new emphasis on searching the bags of moviegoers, the Regal Cinemas chain is treating its customers to its own brand of security theater. According to a story appearing on NPR, the theater chain has always reserved the right to inspect backpacks and the like to intercept bootleg food and drinks. Now, however, the company is claiming ticket takers will be routinely conducting searches of all bags “[t]o ensure the safety of our guests and employees.”

Regal’s revised notice of bag inspections appears on the company's website. It states:

Security issues have become a daily part of our lives in America. Regal Entertainment Group wants our customers and staff to feel comfortable and safe when visiting or working in our theatres. To ensure the safety of our guests and employees, backpacks and bags of any kind are subject to inspection prior to admission. We acknowledge that this procedure can cause some inconvenience and that it is not without flaws, but hope these are minor in comparison to increased safety.

The changes, of course, follow a number of high-profile acts of violence in movie theatres. To be clear, NRA appreciates that businesses like Regal that host the public have legitimate security concerns. We do not believe, however, that “bag checks” by theatre personnel with no security expertise or training have any effective or plausible relationship to public safety.

First, anybody seriously intent on doing harm can easily barge past the unarmed ticket taker. Second, the policy only extends to bags. It does not include patdowns or magnetometers to determine if customers are carrying contraband or weapons on their persons. Third, ticket takers may not even recognize certain types of weapons or bags with hidden pockets or compartments. Certainly, with patrons eager to get be seated, movie personnel will not have much time to conduct their newly-added duty. Fifth, in one of the most notorious examples of violence in a movie theatre, in Aurora, Colo., the assailant did not bring his weapons in through the lobby. Rather, he waited until the movie started, left through an emergency exit that he propped open, and reentered the theater with armaments he had stashed in a nearby vehicle.

It’s clear that Regal’s policy is intended to create an impression that it is “doing something” to prevent violence on its premises. In fact, the policy does no such thing. Meanwhile, it will serve to reinforce the common practice amongst movie theaters of banning even the lawful carrying of concealed firearms or other personal protection equipment, items that really could provide a benefit were an attack to occur. It also conditions patrons to believe that their security needs are being provided for by the managers of the property, when in fact they are not.

To the degree Regal’s policy accomplishes anything, it will be to needlessly intrude upon customers’ privacy and provide an advantage to an armed assailant who methodically plots an attack on unsuspecting and disarmed moviegoers. In the realm of security theater, that is not comedy. It is horror.

Aurora, Colorado

2012 Aurora (CO) theater shootings was a mass shooting that killed 12 & 58 injured.

Note: Kenneth R. Feinberg was an administrator of victim payments for the 2012 Aurora (CO) theater shootings, and is a director at Human Rights First.   

William D. Zabel is the chair for Human Rights First, was a trustee at the Foundation to Promote Open Society, and George Soros’s divorce lawyer.

George Soros’s divorce lawyer was William D. Zabel, the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society, and a benefactor for the Harlem Children's Zone.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Human Rights First, and the Harlem Children's Zone.

Michael R. Bloomberg was a benefactor for the Harlem Children's Zone, a contributor for the Americans for Responsible Solutions, is a co-chair at the Mayors Against Illegal Guns, and the founder of Everytown for Gun Safety.

Americans for Responsible Solutions is a “Gun Safety” PAC for guns.

Mark E. Kelly is a co-founder for the Americans for Responsible Solutions, and married to Gabrielle Giffords.

Gabrielle Giffords is married to Mark E. Kelly, a co-founder for the Americans for Responsible Solutions, and a shooting victim in the 2011 Tucson shootings.

2011 Tucson shootings was a mass shooting that killed 6 & injured 13.

Mayors Against Illegal Guns is a “Gun Safety” group for guns.

Everytown for Gun Safety is a “Gun Safety” group for guns.

Kenneth B. Lerer is an advisory board member for Everytown for Gun Safety, and was the chairman for the Public Theater.

Stephen A. Feinberg is a trustee at the Public Theater, Martin Feinberg’s son, and the CEO for Cerberus Capital Management L.P.

Martin Feinberg is Stephen A. Feinberg’s father, and a Newtown (CT) resident.

Newtown (CT) is the location for the 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

2012 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School was a mass shootings that killed 28, including the gunman.

Cerberus Capital Management L.P. is the owner of the Remington Outdoor Company.

Michael P.C. Carns is a director at the Remington Outdoor Company, and was a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations, the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society, a benefactor for the Harlem Children's Zone, and William D. Zabel was his divorce lawyer.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Harlem Children's Zone, and the Human Rights First.

William D. Zabel was George Soros’s divorce lawyer, a trustee at the Foundation to Promote Open Society, and is the chair for Human Rights First.  

Kenneth R. Feinberg is a director at Human Rights First, and was an administrator of victim payments for the 2012 Aurora (CO) theater shootings.