Anyone seen armed guards at your local movie theaters lately?

[cui bono]

There was one at a theater complex today in Burbank, CA. One guard with a gun standing by the ticket taker. First time I've seen this.

I was wondering if anyone else is seeing armed guards at the movies now.

[quinnox]

1. No, I go to the movies fairly often

and I have seen security guards, but unarmed. I do admit the thought has passed my mind that there could be other nuts out there who want to copy that guy who shot up the movie theater. Maybe there are threats being made in your area by crazy people.

[steve2470]

2. not in central florida, nope nt

[Recursion]

3. All over Mumbai

Ever since the 2008 attacks, apparently.

Then again, India has two pretty antagonistic nucelear powers literally bordering it, which I think gives them more of an exuse, but overall security theater is actually slightly less here. (Though they seem to have a better handle on gun control than we do, without actually disarming the population at large.)

[newfie11]

4. No

But my town is very tiny (one stop light).
In the summer when the tourist come it might be different.

[CBGLuthier]

5. If they have armed guards I am sure it is to protect their money, not people.

Considering the cost nowadays I imagine those theaters can be sitting on a huge wads of cash.

[cui bono]

9. Yeah, and the money they make on the concession stand... $13 for a large popcorn and soda.

Yikes!

[TheCowsCameHome]

6. Contraband snack-smuggling is killing $8 soda and popcorn sales.

Heh. This practice by patrons has to stop.

[Nay]

7. No, not in Richmond, VA. nt

[cui bono]

8. Interesting...

I was really surprised to see it myself yesterday.

[gollygee]

10. No, but I do have to get buzzed into my kids' schools now

the doors to the schools are always locked and they have to see you and press a button so the door unlocks.

[sakabatou]

11. No

[Blue_Tires]

12. I've seen cops occasionally hang out at popular theaters on FRI/SAT nights

Especially theaters with typically big teenage/high school crowds....

[Packerowner740]

13. Our local theater has always had an off duty cop in the lobby.

[madville]

14. The ones here pay law enforcement agencies

To act as security, my neighbor does it sometimes. It's department authorized overtime so he get's $25 an hour to stand there.