Theaters Protect Customers With Seen and Unseen Measures
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CHARLOTTE, NC — As Louisiana mourns the death of two women killed when John Houser opened fire during a movie, Charlotte theaters are reviewing security policies to improve any measures to protect crowds.
“You can’t even have a good time anymore,” said Tracy Anthony. “It’s a shame.”
Anthony and her family are avoiding the movies for now.
“I want to go, but no. I’m real tensed up about that. You know, because you never know,” said Doretha Anthony.
Others not deterred.
“I’m not concerned about going to the movie tonight,” said Mark Allen.
Theaters around the country and in North Carolina stepped up security three years ago after James Holmes killed 12 in the Colorado cinema shooting.
When Houser fired shots Thursday, police say officers quickly closed in. Houser, who family says had a history of mental illness, retreated back into the theater and killed himself.
“It’s a multi-faceted problem,” said Terry Taylor-Allen. “But more fear is not going to solve the problem, it needs to be policy directed. We need much better gun laws and more help for mental health services.”
In Charlotte, off duty officers monitoring theaters are obvious, but unknown to customers, managers say doors have silent alarms that send signals to emergency response teams.
“They need to have more security,” said Tracy Anthony. “A lot of metal detectors, some type of something, that, you know, picks up weapons.”
Others argue, no matter what measures are in place, theaters remain open for the public to come and go as they please. Anyone wanting to cause harm, could.
