Regal Cinemas to begin searching patron's bags prior to admission.

[churchmouse]

Looks like they are cutting their profits.

Touch my bag and.........Oh, sorry.

 

[KittySlayer]

Carmike Cinemas in Fort Wayne suddenly began searching purses a couple of weeks ago too. We bought our tickets and when we handed them to the teenager in a vest she asked my wife to open her purse. I promptly said NO and we began walking towards our movie. The young manager was radioed for and she rushed over. This time my wife said NO, we are watching the movie we paid for or you are refunding our money. Our money was promptly refunded. Oddly enough this whole time I was standing there with my CCW.

Third day now and I am still waiting for a response to the letter I sent:

My wife and I were planning to enjoy a movie at the neighborhood Jefferson Pointe Carmike in Fort Wayne this past weekend. To our surprise local management decided to implement a new policy of looking in women’s purses. She is not going to open her purse for some teenager that has not been trained in security control, especially when neither of the two employees could explain what they were looking for beyond saying “it is a new policy”. That evening she was not even carrying her legal handgun with her and we never carry food into theaters. As a result we chose to spend our food and entertainment dollars elsewhere that evening.

Afterwards we discussed the possible reasons that Carmike may have adopted this new policy. One may have been an attempt to create a perceived level of safety in an attempt to look for weapons following the illegal shootings recently. If this is the reason Carmike has failed epically as there remain so many security holes in the theater operations and inspecting purses would not have prevented any of the previous shootings. How sad that management chooses to create a false sense of security for employees and guests with a cursory purse check that overlooks so many other options to introduce weapons into the theaters.

The second more cynical reason we thought of is the Carmike is looking for outside food or drink to maintain their profit margins. We found this particularly insulting if this was any part of the reason for the purse search. What kind of company would use a crisis like the illegal theater murders to shore up their profit margin? Sadly I am sure someone in a company meeting mentioned this as an added benefit of the purse searches.

We will not be back to a Carmike theater until the purse search policy is rescinded. Either put in a true secure entrance staffed by trained professionals or stop this charade of safety. It is bad enough that Carmike chooses to make its theaters into supposed Gun Free Zones rather than following local law and allowing licensed individuals to legally carry a means of self-defense. I am sure you don’t care about one couples ticket and concession dollars but if you keep ignoring your guest desires in the long run you will find your business failing. Please e-mail me us if you change your policy regarding searching purses so we will know that we can once again can enjoy one of our date nights at the movies.

 

[Joniki]

Carmike Cinemas in Fort Wayne suddenly began searching purses a couple of weeks ago too. We bought our tickets and when we handed them to the teenager in a vest she asked my wife to open her purse. I promptly said NO and we began walking towards our movie. The young manager was radioed for and she rushed over. This time my wife said NO, we are watching the movie we paid for or you are refunding our money. Our money was promptly refunded. Oddly enough this whole time I was standing there with my CCW.

Third day now and I am still waiting for a response to the letter I sent:

Nicely done...

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Waiting for defense of property rights. Funny that.

 

[Rookie]

Their property, their right. Happy?

 

[VERT]

Our local theater has signs stating they are going to search bags. Good thing my gun was on my hip not in my bag.

I noticed them checking the fire exits after the movie started as well.

 

[mrjarrell]

Waiting for defense of property rights. Funny that.

What's so funny? I'm with Rookie. Their business, their right to institute whatever security theatre they wish. You can go along with it and see your movie or do as KS did, get a refund and leave. There are other cinemas out there.

 

[budwiser]

To start, I truly understand how everyone feels about this. I'm not real keen about a kid looking in my wifes purse but that aside the bottom line is its there property so there rules apply. Just like your house your rules. We all know it's a feel good rule that won't stop anything. Couple other points, its not a gun free zone as I go to these theater packing (ccw) all the time. As one person pointed out on the thread, they where doing CCW. Until they start wading or setting up metal detectors, ccw is the way to go if you want to see a movie at there theaters. If we don't like it then the next best thing is Redbox or a chain that has not implimented this policy. I'm ready for all the hate comments.

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

I don't think we've been to the movies since the kids were young. I'm kinda surprised they're even a viable business model anymore.

 

[rjh78]

With so many cinemas parts of malls, and malls renowned for their tolerance and understanding of CCW, would it stand that Regal don't need to cite specifics about banning guns because the mall has already taken care of that?

I can remember the last time I hit the movies. There's better food, beer, seats & privacy at home, without the teenagers messing around on their cellphones...

 

[ArcadiaGP]

Waiting for defense of property rights. Funny that.

It's possible to know someone is able and allowed to do something, and dislike the decision at the same time. There doesn't need to be a hard-line one-or-the-other stance on these sorts of issues.

Irrelevant decisions happen all the time. Like what color a store paints their walls, or what sort of cleaner they use on the floor.

This one affects some gun owners, that's why it's worth sharing. It may, or it may not, influence decisions to spend money at the business in question.

So, it's easy to say "they can do what they want"... hey, great, but that doesn't add a lot to the discussion.

Edit: Not targeting this at you specifically. Lots of people have that "they can do what they want" line... and don't say much after that.

 

[24Carat]

I suddenly get a visual of Skipper or Barbie peering into a bag to behold a full sized 1911. Step II, Plan B ?

 

[17 squirrel]

Depending on the movie playing, if they checked my ladies bag, they might pull out a pocket rocket or a silver bullet.

 

[Kurr]

I was just in Madison Regal 6 last month, OCing my 1851, when I went out halfway through the show for a refill, guy behind the counter said "nice pistol, what is that anyway" I told him and he said he liked it and I went back in to watch the movie with my kids.

I'd say no to a search though.

 

[eldirector]

Yup. Their house, their rules.

But, if I don't LIKE their rules, I'll go to someone ELSE'S house.

Case in point: I don't like the lack of cleaning @ a local theater, so I don't go there. Now, I don't care to have some kid root through my wife's purse @ Regal, so I won't go there.

They can have any asinine rule, policy, routine, or stench that they want. I can watch a movie (or not) wherever I want. Easy, breezy, beautiful....

 

[foszoe]

Bypass the search, just open carry

 

[KittySlayer]

Depending on the movie playing, if they checked my ladies bag, they might pull out a pocket rocket or a silver bullet.

Pocket Rocket = weapon of mass destruction?

Silver Bullet ~ with a +P charge?

 

[PRasko]

I suddenly get a visual of Skipper or Barbie peering into a bag to behold a full sized 1911. Step II, Plan B ?

Seriously though...This ^

What happens when numbnuts finds someone with a gun?

"Oh, I'm sorry sir/mam/nutjob, we don't condone mass murders here, please leave...?"

Not only would I NOT visit such a place, I wouldn't want anyone I know working at one.

 

[Cygnus]

Pocket Rocket = weapon of mass destruction?

Silver Bullet ~ with a +P charge?

If you really don't know what those are; it is total irony in conjunction with your username......
Squirrel, Is it the remote control variety????

 

[MrsGungho]

Their house, their rules. My purse, no lookie, I'll go elsewhere or stay home

that isn't the major issue here though, they are giving a false sense of security to other patrons. Patrons who do not understand how easy it is to CC, patrons who do not understand that merely looking in a bag may not find a thing or may set off something evil.