Shootings Leave Movie-Goers Shocked
MAHONING VALLEY — Although many have been glued to their TV sets watching the story in Colorado unfold, the incident isn’t stopping people from heading to the movies this weekend.
The popcorn is ready to go, and movie theaters in Schuylkill and Carbon counties say it’s business as usual less than 24-hours after a mass shooting at a midnight premier of The Dark Night Rises.
But General Manager of the Mahoning Valley Cinema Bruce Copio says the mass shooting that left twelve dead has shaken him a bit. Copio said, “Definitely, it`s sad for those people, that theater, i don`t even want to think about what that`s like for that to happen.”
But movie goers at the Schuylkill Mall say the news of the killings has them a little nervous as well, especially parents of young teens.
Deb Matz of Pottsville said,”You think it`s a safe place taking them to the movies and dropping them off and picking them up an hour and a half later and it`s not.”
Brad Shafransky of Shenandoah said,”It`s just crazy and it just makes you wonder every little step if you want to go to the store or a movie what would actually happen.”
Security measures haven`t changed at many theaters throughout Northeast Pennsylvania including right here at Mahoning Valley Cinema, but that doesn`t mean they won`t be keeping a close eye to make sure movie goers are safe, when they go to see their next flick
Copio said,”We`ll do whatever`s necessary, but we always keep our eyes and ears open to anything unusual.”
It’s unclear what effect this shooting will have on future ticket sales. Some say they wouldn’t go to the theater to see this film any time soon. But others hope movie goers continue to visit theaters as usual.
Scott Gerace of Posstville said, “I think you have to learn that these things happen, you have to keep moving forward, you have to keep going on, so i would hate to think that one person would ruin the ability for us to take people to the movies.”
