Cops expel CCW carriers from movie theater

J

jimpeel

New member
In Tennessee a theater employee noticed a man entering the theater who had a holstered firearm. When the cops showed up, they stopped the movie and asked for the armed person in the theater to please stand up.

Three men rose.

After it was ascertained that they were all legal CCW holders, they were asked to leave the theater because the theater was posted "No weapons."

SOURCE

3 People Bring Guns to 'Dark Knight' Screening at Movie Theatre in Tennessee

By Kim Dahlgren, Tue, July 31, 2012

Tennessee police confirmed that three people brought guns into the same showing of “The Dark Knight Rises” last Friday night at the Carmike Highland Cinemas.

<MORE>
Click to expand...
 
Just to nitpick it sounds like the theater expelled the men, not the police.

In my opinion its within their rights...I guess.

But I would never go back to that theater. Not even just to make a statement. Why would someone not let someone else protect themselves, especially after its been clearly proven you may be in danger?

And especially in Tennessee, where the people are somewhat sane...
(compared to Illinois)
 
You're not nitpicking....that is exactly what happpened. The theater management HAD them removed from the premises. The police were only doing what the property owner wanted done and was within their rights. That being said, I too would never give that place any of my business again and encourage friends and family to avoid it also.
 
As an unarmed patron, and Constitutionalist, I would have left and asked for my entry fee back. If no one stands up and shows their disdain for businesses which deny rights then they will never learn the error of their ways.

I wonder what the response time of the armed men the theater called to accost the armed men already on site was?
 
I was being polite lol ;)

Yea, I just didn't think this should be painted as the big bad police rolled in and infringed on peoples rights. The big dumb movie theater thinks its more important to feel safe than to fire off a few electrons in their brain and actually be safe.

But what it really comes down to is customers. If 51% of your customers will only come back and spend more money if they don't see a gun, hey make that money.

But I doubt that's the case. The article says it was a spooked employee. I guess you cant really blame him after the things that have happened. He probably thought at the time he was being responsible.

If I was in charge of the theater I wouldn't have made a spectacle of it and gotten the bad press. I would have apologized and given the guys gift certificates. "Oh, you know, big misunderstanding after that aurora shooting...Sorry fellas"

But this is assuming that if i was in charge i wouldn't have gun free zone signs.
 
Kudos to the Warren Theater in Moore, Oklahoma.

Right after the open carry bill passed in Oklahoma the Warren theater on Moore posted "no guns" signs.

Several members of okshooters.com sent letters and e-mails to the corporate office,,,
The response from Mr. Warren was quite surprising to me,,,
Long story short, the signs came down,,,
It was a very interesting thread.

What surprises me the most is that even after the Aurora shooting,,,
The signs will still remain down.

To the dismay of the open carry crowd, of which I am not a member,,,
They do plan to replace the signs with ones reading "No Open Carry" or some such verbiage.

Finally some common sense behavior from a business.

Aarond

.
 
About a week after the Colorado tragedy, the lady and I went to see the Dark Knight Rises. At the theater, they were very prominent no weapons signs, they searched her purse, and two Sheriff's deputies were there. Prior to that, I had always carried in that theater. Now I guess not.

I can't describe the sheer weight of anger I felt towards the stupidity of the theater management as I shoved my Glock under the seat in my truck before we went inside.
 
I've got to put the word in for discretion and common sense here.

There was a shooting in a movie theater recently. Several people were killed, and more were injured. You may have seen it on the news.

So, yes, theater owners are a little hinky right now. I can understand. Misguided or not, they're doing what they think is right. They are not spearheading some war on the 2nd Amendment.

As for the guys in the article, how did anyone know they were carrying? Because they did something to indicate so. If I go to a theater at the present time, I'd be very careful to keep my weapon concealed. They were either sloppy, or they wanted to make some sort of statement. My money is on the second option.

Here's an idea: instead of instigating confrontation, then yelling about it, how about being proactive and contacting the ownership beforehand about the matter? The latter option has a better chance of actually changing their minds.
 
I've got to put the word in for discretion and common sense here.

There was a shooting in a movie theater recently. Several people were killed, and more were injured. You may have seen it on the news.

So, yes, theater owners are a little hinky right now. I can understand. Misguided or not, they're doing what they think is right. They are not spearheading some war on the 2nd Amendment.

As for the guys in the article, how did anyone know they were carrying? Because they did something to indicate so. If I go to a theater at the present time, I'd be very careful to keep my weapon concealed. They were either sloppy, or they wanted to make some sort of statement. My money is on the second option.

Here's an idea: instead of instigating confrontation, then yelling about it, how about being proactive and contacting the ownership beforehand about the matter? The latter option has a better chance of actually changing their minds.
Click to expand...

agreed
 
Yep, there was a deputy right inside the lobby who was checking purses and bags. And there was a deputy who stood in the back of the theater while they were screening the movie
 
I believe theaters to be in decline and voting with your dollars is more grease on the chute. The problem is giving up some portion of control of one's own destiny. It's bad when all you can do is human shield, a poor bargain for those who would prefer a more pro-active outcome. If you really want to see the show, I'd pick one with two deputies for cya, throw the Glock under the truck seat, and relax and see the show!
 
I don't really think it was an option for her to refuse the search.

That being said, I don't like the idea of relying on someone being responsible for my safety.

I may get flamed for this, but the lady friend was fowarded a link to a YouTube video concerning the four boyfriends who died shielding thier girlfriends. Which is a very noble, selfless, courageous act. However, in watching that, I couldn't help but think that it would have been far more helpful too shove said girlfriend down and then move to engage the threat. Or shoot and move with her to an exit.
 
Hello SPEMack618,,,

I don't really think it was an option for her to refuse the search.
Click to expand...

You are probably correct in that if she refused,,,
They wouldn't have allowed her to enter the theater,,,
But I for one would have forced them to disallow my entry.

I know this will sound high-and-mighty,,,
I think I would have made them take that measure.

But that's just me.

Aarond

.
 
"I am sorry, Sir, but you may not search my person or my belongings. I have purchased a ticket for this facility and nowhere on the implied contractual agreement does it state that I am required to surrender any civil or Constitutional rights to enter.

"I am now going to enter the theater for which I have paid admission so if you would please step aside I will be going about my business."

The theater is considered a public convenience under the law and it allows usual and customary public access. There is no requirement that any person, American citizen or no, to surrender any rights to enter the facility. In fact, entry to the lobby area does not require any fee or pass. One may enter without a ticket to purchase items at the snack bar. The fact that you are already in the facility is acceptance of your presence absent any wrongdoing on your part to allow your removal; and the possession of a paid ticket makes it even more so.
 
Quote:
they searched her purse, and two Sheriff's deputies were there.

Now that step,,,
I would not allow.

Aarond

.
Click to expand...
Agreed I won't voluntarily go to any nongovernmental (nonflight) place where I am searched. Outside of a medical emergency I have rights and I am not going to abridge them for a...mere movie.
 
Last edited:
What I find to be interesting about this specific situation, is that there were 3 legal CCWs that responded to request to stand up. If only one had stood up the police would likely have been just as satisfied. This says nothing about the possible number of people who simply did not stand even though they were carrying.

What really makes me think is, what if none of them had stood up. What would the police have done then? Attempt to search every person in the theater? Have the employee go with the police to identify the person they saw? The article says nothing of how substantiated the claim was or if one of those 3 people was in fact the person spotted by the theater employee. To me this touches on a fine line between the safety of the general public and 4th amendment protections.

Is there probable cause, to search a single person let alone an entire theater because someone believes they saw a gun? If there is some verifiable evidence, such as security footage, is one thing, but for every time someone thinks they see a gun, how many times is it actually a gun?

To me, this type of situation brings up more questions than are likely to be answered by available information on the specific situation.
 
The Cinema companies are digging their own graves on this one IMHO. Movie revenues are already in decline, and discouraging legal CCW above all things paints a terrible image for them.

As a legal CC'er I would not support a Cinema that prohibits legal carry. In these violent times I would be very hesistant to give up my 2A rights, and would not support any company prohibiting them. Just my 2c.

On a side note, if I really wanted to see a good movie like Dark Knight, I might make a very rare exception. otherwise I would seek a different theather.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top