Alec Baldwin fired prop gun, killing 1 on movie set, Oct 2021

[Gardenista]

AB's most recent tweet

https://twitter.com/AlecBaldwin/status/1451766166611906570

 

[Betty P]

I think sometimes that when a production is very small and people are hired on the same day as a shoot, rules get broken. Further, I hope SFCSO measured blood alcohol levels. I suspect that this may be a group of people who were pretending to be cowboys out there, and may have been using those classic weapons for target practice - with live rounds. Or even shooting at animals, who knows. All I know is that SFCSO has now searched the set, taken a lot of things, and if they find live rounds, that will be quite interesting. It will be the personal fault of the various armourers, and criminal liability for the productio company (Alec Baldwin).

I don't think Alec Baldwin had any say in who was hired, nor in how they were managed. He had already posted on social media that he supported the IATSE workers who had walked off the set.

From what I've read, there are different types of "producer" credits. Not everyone who is named as a co-producer is in charge of budget, hiring and firing, management of employees, etc.

Hope this link helps. It explains the different roles for various types of producers.

Film producer - Wikipedia

Here's a link to the IMDB page for "Rust". It shows thirteen (13) different producers for this film, including Alec Baldwin

Rust - Full Cast & Crew - IMDb

Alec Baldwin ... producer
Kc Brandenstein ... co-producer
Allen Cheney ... executive producer
Matt DelPiano ... producer
Tyler Gould ... executive producer
Matthew Helderman ... executive producer
Nathan Klingher ... producer
Anjul Nigam ... producer
Emily Hunter Salveson ... executive producer
Ryan Donnell Smith ... producer
Luke Taylor ... executive producer
Ryan Winterstern ... producer

 

[Dotta]

I'd give WSer's more credit than that. I think most people on WS are able to form opinions based on facts and not feelings alone.

I took it as a joke of Suzy!!!!

 

[steeltowngirl]

2011 New Mexico Statutes
Chapter 30: Criminal Offenses
Article 7: Weapons and Explosives, 30-7-1 through 30-7-22
Section 30-7-4: Negligent use of a deadly weapon.

Universal Citation: NM Stat § 30-7-4 (1996 through 1st Sess 50th Legis)
30-7-4. Negligent use of a deadly weapon.

A. Negligent use of a deadly weapon consists of:

(1) discharging a firearm into any building or vehicle or so as to knowingly endanger a person or his property;

(2) carrying a firearm while under the influence of an intoxicant or narcotic;

(3) endangering the safety of another by handling or using a firearm or other deadly weapon in a negligent manner; or

(4) discharging a firearm within one hundred fifty yards of a dwelling or building, not including abandoned or vacated buildings on public lands during hunting seasons, without the permission of the owner or lessees thereof.

B. The provisions of Paragraphs (1), (3) and (4) of Subsection A of this section shall not apply to a peace officer or other public employee who is required or authorized by law to carry or use a firearm in the course of his employment and who carries, handles, uses or discharges a firearm while lawfully engaged in carrying out the duties of his office or employment.

C. The exceptions from criminal liability provided for in Subsection B of this section shall not preclude or affect civil liability for the same conduct.

Whoever commits negligent use of a deadly weapon is guilty of a petty misdemeanor.

2011 New Mexico Statutes :: Chapter 30: Criminal Offenses :: Article 7: Weapons and Explosives, 30-7-1 through 30-7-22 :: Section 30-7-4: Negligent use of a deadly weapon.

 

[happyday]

Actors spend countless hours researching, rehearsing and getting into character. So it is expecting too much for an actor to take a couple hours to learn how to handle the potentially deadly weapon they are going to be running around pretending to shoot people with? Good grief, I think you aren't giving them ENOUGH credit. They load and unload and brandish and shoot weapons for scenes a thousand times, looking like they know what they are doing ... because they do. They are literally using a real gun (prop guns are real guns) for hours and hours and hours shooting scenes, loading and unloading, convincingly. So you want me to believe that the poor little actors aren't capable of opening the weapon and checking for themselves that the weapon is cold? BEFORE cocking that hammer and pulling that trigger? THAT is exactly why this young lady is dead, imo. A 2 second safety check would have saved her life. But that would be too much to ask of a millionaire actor who makes his money pretending to shoot people.

I bet if AB had to do it over again, he'd take that 2 seconds to open that weapon and check.

I don't care if you're an actor, or a criminal, or a firearms instructor, or a dad teaching his daughter how to shoot ... a 2 second safety check is worth the life of another person. Just Do It.

IMO, and all that jazz.

I don’t disagree with you about training and more safety when it comes to weapons on set. But no, I don’t expect an actor to know how to open a weapon and check properly. Actors are BSers—and I say that with love. I was an actor. They might be convincing that they know what they’re doing, but they don’t. I did a commercial one time where I was supposed to be some kind of athlete. Wardrobe put me in clothes, took me to set, and I was handed some sort of racket. I had NO IDEA what kind or what kind of sports person I was supposed to be. Still don’t! But I looked like I did!
I know a racket is not a gun, and I appreciate the safety differences. But we don’t expect actors who play doctors to learn how perform surgery. Or to guarantee the safety of any of the props they’re handed. I would love it if every actor who ever handles a gun is knowledgeable enough to even know how to open it and check and know what they’re looking at, but it will never happen. I think using actual weapons in film and TV is an unnecessary risk. MOO

 

[happyday]

The gun misfired during the week at least twice before the accident. It could be the same as Brandon Lee where a piece of another blank from misfiring was lodge in the chamber when a second blank was put in the gun. When it was fired, that lodged piece is what killed Brandon. So maybe we will find out there were not live bullets in the gun Baldwin fired, or has that already been reported and I'm behind?

I don’t think we know yet what the projectile was.

 

[DWebster]

That's all very well, but when you have three previous gun incidents on the same set, all presumably controlled by the same rookie armorer, you'd think that the team would investigate why this happened and do something about it. THREE times. There were complaints about gun safety on that set, yet it happened again, this time causing a loss of life. No time, budget constraints, etc are not excuses.

Or was it THREE times because the person in possession of the firearm accidently fired it when he/she wasn't supposed to. Hard to say until we have the facts. It's not like the gun fired itself. If it was a single action vintage colt revolver, then hammer had to be cocked and trigger had to be pulled ... by someone.

 

[LaborDayRN]

<Admin Note: added link to source>

 

[happyday]

I know many would be happy to see AB take the fall here. I don't like him much either, and he doesn't seem like a nice person. But IMO, it was not his job to check the gun. How about holding the person who had one job to do and could not do it properly? The Amorer, who didn't even know how to handle blanks.

Are we going to start sending people to jail because they are not...nice?

Moo.

I think a lot of people do want to see him go down for this because he’s unlikeable. I think if he is liable it will be because of his producer status not as the actor who was handed the gun to use. MOO

 

[Betty P]

CNN interview with attorney who represented the family of the woman crew worker who was killed on the set of the movie "Midnight Rider". That was a sad incident and a shame the director and others were taking such terrible risks.

Lawyer is saying there will likely be civil trials, but not sure about criminal. He makes the point that the investigation is just beginning, we have to wait until more is known.

Everyone is working with second-hand information, etc. He says its always bad to put these young crews who are working hard, putting in too many hours. Lots of movies being made these days. They're doing dangerous work and they need more supervision on safety.

 

[Betty P]

<Admin Note: added link to source>

Thanks! That's good information. LA Times will be reporting a lot of first hand stuff, but they're behind a paywall for me.

That doesn't sound good if two stunt persons had already been given guns with live rounds. Very scary. No wonder a lot of people left.

 

[Alethea]

I don't know where they will come down on criminal charges but for a civil wrongful death suit I think the standard would be what a reasonable person or a reasonable gun user would do. There are a lot of firearm safety experts out there who would say every person who holds a gun is responsible to check and clear the gun themselves. Whether you are entitled to rely on someone else rather than check yourself will depend on what previous cases have found under the law.

I know that if someone handed me a gun, even my own husband, I would go through the steps I learned in my gun safety class to ensure it was properly cleared or loaded and everything looked fine to me. I, personally, would feel that I have this enormous responsibility because the thing in my hand could kill someone and I would want to make sure I, personally, am confident that it's set to use or store or whatever it is. I think a lot of gun owners feel that way. It's not a joke, you don't point a gun at anyone you aren't ready to kill. I am no movie person but I was shocked to learn they use real guns as props given how far we have come in modeling and special effects.

This is a tragedy and guns should not be used as toys on a film set IMO.

 

[steeltowngirl]

From the article in AB’s tweet:

After the shot was fired, the affidavit states that the armorer was given the prop gun and then removed the “spent casing” from the weapon before giving it to the police. Baldwin was wearing clothing consistent with a costume for the film (“Old Western style clothing”) but changed and also gave his clothes to the police, who said they “appeared to have blood stains,” as the Times reported.

The Albuquerque Journal, which obtained audio of the 911 call from set, reported that a woman who identified herself as a script supervisor said, “We’ve had two people accidentally shot by a prop gun; we need help immediately.”

When asked if the gun was loaded with a real bullet, the caller replied: “I don’t… I can’t tell you that… And this (expletive) AD that yelled at me at lunch – asking about revisions, this mother (expletive) – he’s supposed to check the guns, he’s responsible for what happens on the set.”

Alec Baldwin Told Prop Gun Was Safe Before Fatal Shooting - Variety

 

[Chelly]

I am a resident of New Mexico. State gun statutes and film-studio rules aside: The state of NM has a strong gun culture and IMO tends be be lax about weapon use. I can see how this culture might carry over to a studio set.

"Where the Old West Comes Alive"
Bonanza Creek Ranch is an all inclusive filming set where the movie "Rust" is being filmed
https://bonanzacreekranch.com

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

<Admin Note: added link to source>

Heads should roll!

 

[happyday]

IMO This young armorer should have never been in this position. I feel bad for her because a lot of this comes down to her job and her fault (with what we know so far). She is ruined in this industry. Her one saving grace may be just what a mess safety wise this whole production apparently was.

 

[steeltowngirl]

N.M. Stat. § 30-2-3
Current through 2021 SP1 ch. 4, and 2021 ch. 140
Section 30-2-3 - Manslaughter

Manslaughter is the unlawful killing of a human being without malice.

A. Voluntary manslaughter consists of manslaughter committed upon a sudden quarrel or in the heat of passion. Whoever commits voluntary manslaughter is guilty of a third degree felony resulting in the death of a human being.

B. Involuntary manslaughter consists of manslaughter committed in the commission of an unlawful act not amounting to felony, or in the commission of a lawful act which might produce death in an unlawful manner or without due caution and circumspection.

Whoever commits involuntary manslaughter is guilty of a fourth degree felony.

NMS § 30-2-3

1953 Comp., § 40A-2-3, enacted by Laws 1963, ch. 303, § 2-3; 1994, ch. 23, § 2.

Section 30-2-3 - Manslaughter, N.M. Stat. § 30-2-3 | Casetext Search + Citator

 

[Dotta]

I think a lot of people do want to see him go down for this because he’s unlikeable. I think if he is liable it will be because of his producer status not as the actor who was handed the gun to use. MOO

Liking or not Liking an actor has nothing to do with the issue.

What really matters is showing respect to staff as one of the producers, eg: bosses.

Treating people well in terms of safe working conditions, adequate pay and accommodation while working in this project.

Is it too much to ask?

 

[IceIce9]

Now, if it’s was the Asst Director who handed it to Alec calling “cold gun”, where was armoury lady at that point?

The armourer prepares the gun and delivers it to the AD. The AD inspects the gun and hands it to the actor, stating “cold gun.”

Except in this case the armourer failed to prepare and deliver a cold gun, and the AD apparently failed to check it.

Has anyone seen a statement from the armourer?

 

[IceIce9]

Now, if it’s was the Asst Director who handed it to Alec calling “cold gun”, where was armoury lady at that point?

The armourer prepares the gun and delivers it to the AD. The AD inspects the gun and hands it to the actor, stating “cold gun.”

Except in this case the armourer failed to prepare and deliver a cold gun, and the AD apparently failed to check it.

Has anyone seen a statement from the armourer?

What did she mean by "loading blanks"? Was she making the blanks herself? If so, that's dangerous and completely unnecessary. The pros I've seen interviewed say that there are companies in CA that make blanks, dummy bullets and other products specifically for the movie, tv, entertainment industry. They're the experts, you buy the products from them. They follow industry standards for making and marking these products so people on the set can tell quickly which is a real item.

This person sounds totally unqualified. While I shouldn't judge from appearances, the many photos of her posing with guns also seems unprofessional. She seems more of a gun nut who likes to play around with and shoot weapons for fun.

Has she made a statement? I haven’t been able to find one from her.

While there is blame to go around I feel that it starts with the armourer. It was her job to prepare and deliver a safe firearm.