This letter may be of small concern to some, but to me and my friends - not so much.

The other night a few friends and I went to see the late showing of the movie "The Grey." A pretty severe R-rated film. Minutes before the movie kicks in, a young couple in their mid-20s walk in with a little girl no more than 5 or 6 years old. As the movie unfolded, it was quickly obvious that this movie wasn't going to spare us anything. Scene after scene we watched horrified as bodies were ripped to pieces.

Blood, fear, the utter hopelessness - it was tough to watch. But, beneath it all, we were flinching at the thought that a little 5-year-old girl was meant to sit and endure such a grisly film.

Fantastically, an usher came through twice - checking the doors against anyone wanting to sneak in - and walked right past her. Twice. We all cringed at the attention being paid to commerce while there was real injury happening right in the front row.

Our point is this: If we are to be the good society that we all want for our children to grow up in, then there ought to be real power given to the theaters to forbid children under a certain age to be allowed into such films no matter who they're with. That was the real horror.

Matt Ticke

Bellingham