2 shot after live rounds used in Old West gunfight re-enactment

New York Post ^ | 10/19/2015 | AP

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

TOMBSTONE, Ariz. — An actor staging a historical gunfight in the Old West town of Tombstone and a bystander were shot with live rounds during a show that was supposed to use blanks, leading officials to call for the re-enactments popular with tourists to be put on hold.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

I’ve seen shootouts in Guthrie Oklahoma and Branson Missouri.
When one of the “lawmen” passed me I glanced down and saw his pistol was an old black powder front loader with the nipple areas ground down so nothing could be fired in it.

When the “shootout” happened, different guns were used and I noticed, during a reload, the blanks casings were black, not brass. I was not able to get close enough to see what they really were.

Blanks should be marked. There is no way you can mistake a real cartridge for a blank.

To chase off stray dogs, I use plastic cases with primers and wax “bullets”. No powder. They WILL STING.

[Jonah Hex]

I watched one of the Helldorado shows a few years ago while TDY to Fort Huachuca. Big, over-blown show, but there was actually some sharp-shooting demonstrated.

Shame to hear about this...

[HiJinx]

Last time I watched this particular show, the reenactors told the audience that even though blanks were being used, they were still dangerous. Then proved it, by firing a blank at a sheet of cardboard 10’ away. The plug/wad left a hole in the ‘target’ as it passed through.

But another poster up-thread made the money comment - the shooter arrived late and managed to bypass the safety check.

Tombstone’s mayor Dusty Escapule released a statement within a couple of hours of the incident stopping all gunfights in Tombstone until more stringent safety procedures are drawn up and put in place.

[AZHSer]

Have lived in Sierra Vista for years and been in the Tombstone Helldorado and Rose parades several times. We have seen the Vigilantes perform many times as everyone that comes to visit wants to see “the Old West” in Tombstone. LOL! It has become increasingly commercial over the years. With this, it will only get worse as there will be a push to go to “professional” groups.

[melancholy]

“Or maybe a case for new gun laws?”

I wouldn’t put it past progressive movie crew personnel to sneak in a live round or two, especially in scenes of shooting in close quarters.

If a famous actor is killed, they’ll stop all shooting scenes in movies and TV films.

[Flag_This]

"The group also performs mock hangings where unsuspecting victims are tried and convicted by the Tombstone Vigilantes."

Stay tuned...

[JimSEA]

That is really odd, I’ll follow this one. That play acting gun fight has been going on as long as I remember. The Crystal Palace Saloon was a beer stop on the way to Douglas for me back in the day.

[Rodamala]

This is why there is a property master on location.

[discostu]

The shows in Tombstone don’t pay so great. Most of these guys use their own everything, the clothes the gun the whole deal. And they usually do multiple shows a day, they’re not green, and they’re pretty solid on safety. Going to be interesting what the investigation finds. These are folks who know better, and have done this hundreds or thousands of times without incident.

[SoCal Pubbie]

You mean like Brandon Lee or Jon-Erik Hexum?

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***by firing a blank at a sheet of cardboard 10’ away. ***

I remember an old PERRY MASON episode in which he fires a blank cartridge in the courtroom and no hole appears in the paper he was aiming at. He had secretly replaced the plug/wad with a piece of chalk which disintegrated and left no hole.

For some reason he needed to “prove” that the wad would not leave a hole.

I would not let anyone shoot at me with a blank, a wax bullet, or a chalk plugged bullet.

[aragorn]

I used to use wax bullets in a .44 mag revolver for practice and pest control, as you said, just case and primer. I found out that you must use a proper backstop when I discovered that they shot perfect round holes through the thin wooden bottom of a dresser drawer at the end of the hallway - roughly 15 feet. OOPS!

[melancholy]

“You mean like Brandon Lee or Jon-Erik Hexum?”

Not really. At the time we weren’t very polarized and anything goes kind of era.

Now it’s different with decades and decades of progressive education and pounding by the public enemy no. 1, the communist media, who caused over 50% of the population to hate America.

The agenda and protected groups’ causes have become job one.

[Rusty0604]

I’ve been there a few times, took the grandkids a few years ago to watch the show. I love the people there.

[Finny]

There's a huge difference between a reenactor of historic events like Civil War battles and the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, and an actor who portrays a character on stage or screen.

Reenactors of historic armed conflicts are probably more knowledgeable about the firearms they're using than you have any idea.

I think IMR 4350 has the more likely explanation in post #10.

[Red in Blue PA]

I wouldn’t put it by the antis either.....when was the last time you ever heard this happening?