Starkville’s Hollywood Premiere Cinemas will maintain the level of security held prior to the Aurora, Colo. tragedy.
Show times after 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays will require movie goers under 17 to have a chaperone 21 years or older to buy their tickets and sit with them.
Photo identification is required for chaperones and movie goers in question.
Those under the age of two cannot attend a movie after 6 p.m. unless content is G or PG rated.
Bags brought in are checked, no costumes are permitted and theater security includes several surveillance cameras.
Doug Bedsaul, general manager of Starkville’s Hollywood Premiere Cinemas, said he does not think the tragedy in Aurora should drive people to be overly cautious.
“Personally and professionally, I do not think that an isolated tragedy says something about other tragedies,” he said. “I encourage people to be cautious, but there is not a need for them to be particularly vigilant.”
The impact of the shooting during the Aurora, Colo., Dark Knight premiere prompted a rise in background checks to purchase guns within the state.
Sara Burnett of The Denver Postsaid firearm instructors have seen increased interest in training required for a concealed-carry permit.
From the Friday to Sunday following the tragedy, 2,887 background checks to obtain a firearm were approved by the Colorado Board of Investigation.
This is a 43 percent increase from the previous Friday to Sunday.
A Southern Colorado web television channel, 11KKTV.com, said to ease people’s minds, police presence will be increased without increase of taxpayer money, and the security of theaters will be extended to churches, banks and schools.
Liza Hudspeth, senior medical technology major, attends premieres regularly and said she feels comfortable going to Starkville’s movie theater.
“I realize life is unpredictable, but I will continue to go to the movies,” she said. “On a scale of 1 to 10, I have a comfort level of about 8 at Starkville’s theater.”
Dana Aguillard, senior elementary education major, said she was frightened to hear of the shooting and her thoughts went to her boyfriend who attended the movie’s premiere in Starkville.
Aguillard said she will still go to movies as she did before.
Bedsaul of said an isolated tragedy is not an indicator these events will happen regularly.
“People need to be aware of what is going on around them,” he said. “But they have to live their life.”
Remember Aurora Weekend, which took place Aug. 24 to 26, included a comic book signing, concert, silent auction and tattoo marathon to honor “the men and women whose heroism is far greater than that of the fictional hero they had gathered that night to see.”
Visit rememberaurora.comor the Remember Aurora Facebook page for more information about the weekend’s events and to pre-order white ribbon memorial items.
Those interested can also host their own event or get involved at [email protected].
A Facebook survey sent to residents of Aurora will help determine what to do with the Century 16 Movie Theater, site of the July 20 tragedy, Jeffrey Bloomer of The Slatestsaid.
Suggestions from the survey have included tearing down the theater and reopening it under a new name.
The theater has been closed since July 20.
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Starkville theater maintains security measures in light of Aurora tragedy, students still feel safe
Jillian Fowler
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August 28, 2012
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