Security tightened at US movie houses

Seen from the air, police continue to investigate outside the Century 16 movie theatre where suspect James Holmes went on a shooting rampage during an early morning screening of the new Batman movie, ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ on July 21, 2012 in Aurora, outside of Denver, Colorado. According to reports, 12 people have been killed and over 59 injured including 9 in critical condition . Police have the suspect, twenty-four year old James Holmes of North Aurora, in custody. AFP

ST. LOUIS, Missouri—The mass shooting at a Colorado movie theater rattled the nerves of some other moviegoers with opening weekend tickets for the new Batman film and led some cinema chains to add more guards.

Experts say it’s unlikely, though, that venues will implement even stricter security measures because it would significantly alter the experience of going to a film, concert or game.

The rampage in Aurora, Colorado, at a midnight screening of the new Batman movie left 12 people dead and dozens wounded. Authorities say the gunman apparently slipped out through an emergency exit to arm himself, then re-entered that way and opened fire on the startled audience.

The attack had a chilling effect on some ticket holders who had been eagerly awaiting what had been billed as the summer’s hottest movie.

“I’m just going to keep my eyes and ears open for anything strange,” 27-year-old Charlotte Kimbrell, of Illinois, said before a screening of “Dark Knight” at a theater in nearby O’Fallon. “I’ll probably be sitting all the way in back today, away from the exit doors.”

Paranoia takes over

It was in the back of some baseball fans’ minds, as well.

“I think paranoia takes over after something like that, but I think for the most part, all they can do is check your bags and hope that you’re not crazy,” said David Karney, of Michigan, who watched the Detroit Tigers host the Chicago White Sox.

“At the end of the day, if you’re crazy and want to do something, you’re going to do it.”

The angst is understandable after the attack, one of the deadliest mass shootings in recent US history.

But security experts say changes made at ballparks, theaters and concert venues after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks have gone a long way toward making them safer.

“The problem is security is never 100 percent,” said Richard Sem, a longtime security management executive from Wisconsin. “We look at what’s reasonable, practical. You don’t necessarily need Fort Knox to go to a Sunday afternoon baseball game.”

A decade after the terrorist attacks, at ballparks and concerts, bag checks are now common when entering a venue. Sometimes, there are metal detector wand scans at sporting events. Some movie theaters already have random bag checks.

But experts say that it can be a difficult choice to decide where to install additional extra measures, and note that it’s no guarantee a patron will be safer with them in place.

Could happen anywhere

“Are we going to put in security that might not work at every movie theater, at every mall?” asked Derek Catsam, a history professor at the University of Texas of the Permian. “Think of all the places you go during the day where you stand in line or are stuck in crowds. This could happen at any of those places.”

Proactive

Richard Ballentine, of Valrico, Florida, said he was worried that the Colorado attack would lead to airport-style metal detectors at movie theaters and stadiums.

“Most of those checks are a waste of time. They’re reactive instead of being proactive,” Ballentine said. “The truth is terrorists will look at the things that we’re doing to try to provide security and they’ll look for other places that are weak spots, and they’ll just adapt.”  Report from AP