By Jonathan Lowe
Gilbert, AZ (KPHO) — In the wake of recent movie theater shootings, Regal Entertainment Group, which operates the largest chain of movie theaters in the U.S., has instituted a nationwide policy designed to protect its guests and employees. That company owns Regal Cinema 14 in Gilbert.
"I said no," moviegoer Danielle Valenzuela told us. "They’re not going to check my purse, so I just walked into the movie theater."
Under the Admittance Procedures section of its website, Regal Entertainment says:
"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 theaters. 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."
"They don’t have permission to see what’s in my purse," Valenzuela said. "What’s in my purse is my business."
But other people we talked to at the Gilbert Regal Cinema 14 disagreed.
"For safety, I think it’s a good policy," said one person who preferred not to be identified.
Scenes of movie theater shootings have robbed many of their sense of security while out in public.
"Given the nature of what’s going on today, and the shootings that have happened, anything to keep the public safe or the sense of well-being is a good policy," supporters of the policy said.
The movie theater group that made this policy change says it’s aware of the inconvenience and that policy may have flaws but that it hopes those are minor in comparison to the increased safety.