In the wake of recent violence at movie theaters nationwide, some cinemas are instituting bag check policies or banning totes like backpacks.

At some theaters the policies, which were only recently put in place, have already changed.

South Pike Cinemas in Buffalo Township began last week by banning bags, said a manager. But this week the policy changed to just a bag check.

Notices posted at Regal Moraine Pointe Cinema 10 in Butler Township tell moviegoers that backpacks or “bags of any kind” might be searched.

Some theaters aren’t using bag check policies at all. Cranberry Cinemas, which is one of two privately-owned theaters in the region, has not instituted any bag checks. Theater manager Mike Do said he wasn’t aware of any plans to start such a policy.

Eric Thomas, who owns the Guthrie Theater in Grove City, said the business’ proximity to Grove City College means backpacks are a frequent sight in the theater, and he doesn’t want to change that. Thomas sees the backpacks as a sign of students’ commitment to education.

“We welcome these kids. They study in our lobby sometimes,” Thomas said. “Their backpacks go into the theater with no questions asked.”

Employees at corporately-owned theaters weren’t saying much about the new rules. Managers at South Pike and Regal referred questions to their corporate offices, which did not respond to calls.

The checks and bans come after violence at two theaters left four dead.

On Aug. 5 a homeless man who police said walked into a theater near Nashville, Tenn., armed with a hatchet, pepper spray and a pellet gun and attacked three people was himself shot dead by police. On July 23 a man identified by police as a drifter killed himself after fatally shooting two people and injuring nine others with a handgun at a theater in Lafayette, La.