Bismarck Theater Wants To Search Your Bags

Anti-gun paranoia comes to North Dakota:

Bismarck’s Grand Theatres has posted signs disallowing backpacks and trenchcoats in its theaters; this was a safety measure undertaken in response to the mass theater shooting in Aurora, Colo., in July 2012 in which 12 people died and 58 were wounded at a midnight showing of “The Dark Knight Rises,” said manager Russell Fix.

Anyone coming in with a backpack will be asked to not bring it into the theater, he said.

“If we get some people with kids (with) a diaper bag, there we look into the bags,” he said.

First, this is just plain stupid. Searching bags isn’t going to stop a shooter. A shooter is going to charge in, guns blazing. In fact, the shooter at the theater in Aurora didn’t sneak his guns into the theater. He went into the theater unarmed, snuck out through an emergency door (which he propped open) and then came back in armed.

Second, this is exactly the sort of mistrust and paranoia the anti-gun movement wants to disseminate among the public at large. They want us to be scared as justification for their gun-grabbing policies.

I’ve only been to the Grand Theater a couple of times (and didn’t really enjoy the experience due to the rude personnel). Given this, I don’t think I’ll be going back.