Increase security at movie theaters: #tellusatoday

• Authorities say John Houser, 59, opened fire Thursday at a movie theater in Lafayette, La.
• Mayci Breaux and Jillian Johnson were killed in the shooting, and nine others were wounded.

The fatal shooting at a movie theater in Lafayette, La., on Thursday prompted a discussion about public security. Comments from Facebook are edited for clarity and grammar:

The problem is not security at a movie theater. The problem is guns on the street that have killed, and will continue to kill, innocent people in any venue. Churches, restaurants, playgrounds — nowhere is safe.

— Fred Clemens

Freedom has a price in the United States. An integral part of freedom is personal responsibility. Nevertheless, it also entails personal irresponsibility.

The alleged gunman paid the ultimate price for this freedom and made two others pay the ultimate price. It’s senseless. Nobody has the answer. These shootings are like the movie Groundhog Day, and that is not meant in a humorous vein.

— Buddy Hess

When I worked at a fast-food place in Miami 40 years ago, we used to have an off-duty cop in the restaurant every night from 6 p.m. until close. Theaters should hire an off-duty cop so there’s always a first-responder right there.

— Paul Nielsen

My local cinema has 12 theaters. Would you put an armed security guard in each of the 12?

Standing in the lobby won’t help very much. By the time the guard gets to the scene, the damage is done.

The answer is to put real restrictions on those who should not have guns, and real punishment (prison time) on those who enable them.

— John Letaw

Letter to the editor:

It was a sad moment at the Grand Theatre in Lafayette, La., where two women were shot to death while seeing the film Train- wreck. The alleged gunman also died. The shooting mimicked the one at a Colorado movie theater in 2012, but fewer people died in the Lafayette shooting.

I also think all movie theaters should check moviegoers’ bags before entering to see whether they brought in firearms, ammunition or other explosives.

Paul Bacon; Hallandale Beach, Fla.

In the wake of the Lafayette, La., shooting, we asked our Twitter followers about security at movie theaters. Comments are edited for clarity and grammar:

If peaceful places start getting more security, it will turn the U.S. into a police state.

— @SaudiPatriot92

They should use the same security checkpoints that nightclubs or public concerts use. Check bags or pockets one by one.

— @Gon_Cullen

Theaters do not need any more security than other places. Use your Second Amendment rights. Arm yourself.

— @trudielynnl

Metal detectors should be put in place. They aren’t intrusive, and people will walk past them without a second thought.

— @SallieArnoult

The movie theater where I used to work checked bags and had cops on-site after Aurora, Colo. That’s good, but not airtight.

— @Alex_Goldberger

Don’t let two shooters ruin it for everyone. Theater security is fine as is.

— @natereagen

For more discussions, follow @USATOpinion and #tellusatoday on Twitter.