Alec Baldwin asked why was he given ‘hot gun’ after fatal film set shooting

NY Post ^ | October 22, 2021 | 8:58am | Emily Crane

[conservative98]

A distraught Alec Baldwin repeatedly asked why was he given a “hot gun” after his prop weapon accidentally discharged on his New Mexico film set Thursday, killing a cinematographer and injuring the director, witnesses have claimed.

The tragic accident unfolded while Baldwin was filming his upcoming western film “Rust” at Bonanza Creek Ranch in Sante Fe.

Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, 42, died and director, Joel Souza, 48, was injured after they were both struck when the gun discharged, the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office said.

Immediately after the incident, an eyewitness told Hollywood gossip site Showbiz 411 that Baldwin started asking how he could have been given a “hot gun” – meaning a firearm loaded with real ammunition.

“In all my years, I’ve never been handed a hot gun,” the actor allegedly kept saying.

[discostu]

A lot of filming a movie necessitates the breaking of those rules. But there’s people with the job of making sure that’s OK. It’s not blaming the gun, it’s the guy who was supposed to be safety checking that gun before it got on set, and again before it got handed to an actor, and between every take.

[rktman]

Yeah but those guys aren’t “real” actors. Right al-ick.

[SunkenCiv]

The fact that the POS is still in demand in showbiz illustrates why showbiz sucks.

[fidelis]

I will wait to find out if the gun really had “real ammunition or not” but my guess is it wasn’t. Few (it seems) know the “wadding” in a blank becomes a projectile when filed and can be deadly at close range.

That’s my stance as well: reserve judgment until more facts come out. I can tell you from my military and DOD training experience that even when using blanks, PLENTY of projectile still comes out of weapons barrel. At night, especially, you can see it blowing out all over the place.

[mware]

Remember another hunting accident involving John Wayne and Ward Bond. Wayne shot Bond in the butt. The shotgun belonged to Bond. On Bonds death he left the shotgun to Wayne in his will. Wayne, John Ford, Terry Wilson(Bill Hawks in WT) Frank McGraph (Charlie Wooster on WT) and the guy who played Festus all were pall bearers at his funeral.

[Magnum44]

I hear what you say and partly agree. However many people are convicted for ‘accidental’ shootings. Anyone with a gun should have basic safety training, including how to check the status (loaded/unloaded) of the gun. Baldwin lives in one of the most gun restrictive states in the country. He is anti-gun yet not responsible enough to understand basic safety of the tools of his trade? He definitely has a major part in the responsibility IMHO.

[Atticus]

With technology today why do they even need to use blanks?!?!

[1Old Pro]

There’s guys on set whose sole job to NEVER hand an actor a gun that can kill somebody.

Well that didn't happen.

[nagant]

[cowboyusa]

Lock him up!

[HereInTheHeartland]

Someone screwed up and it wasn’t obnoxious liberal Baldwin.
Tragic situation, the crew made a terrible mistake unfortunately .

[Georgia Girl 2]

You would think. If someone hands me a gun and says its not loaded I instantly check. If someone handed me a gun and said its loaded with blanks I’d fire one off to make sure. Most of these movie types never touch a weapon in real life. Keanu Reeves and Steven Seagal And Chuck Norris are the only exceptions that jump to mind.

[9YearLurker]

And, of course, not to shoot it at his DP and director.

[Romulus]

Then there will be evidence.

[Honest Nigerian]

Dayum!!
Hope they don’t leave that footage on the cutting room floor.
My guess is that this was a publicity stunt.
Or maybe they had an Afghani immigrant handling safety training?
Possibilities abound.

[Paddy Irish]

I read somewhere else that when they shoot at the camera, they put a glass barrier or window between the gun and the camera so that the lens does not get scratched or pitted. The more details that come out, I think Alec might have been screwing around. Nothing else makes sense. Also, I don’t think the type of weapon has been reported. Could have been a shotgun.

[9YearLurker]

Agreed. Maybe upset that she went for the director instead of his disgusting carcass?

[ThunderSleeps]

So the story is he was given a "hot gun" (aka a real firearm with live ammo) rather than a prop gun?

Ok, fine. Several things wrong here.

First, if he was at all trained and conscientious he would know the four rules of firearm safety and no-one would have gotten hurt. The only way this happens is if he violated basically all four. So Alec (and greater Hollywood) you still want to keep bashing the NRA and us firearms enthusiasts? I handle a firearm every single day, and I've never had a negligent discharge, never hurt anyone with my firearms.

In addition, the production company, from the director on down to the prop guy, screwed up. I thought it was a rule on many sets that there simply is no live ammo anywhere on set. Period. If there are scenes that need to be filmed with real firearms and live ammo these are done on separate days with minimal staff/crew around and everyone knows it is a live-fire day and every weapon is treated as real. Other days are nominal/normal filming where everything is props and/or blanks. They never mix the two to prevent just this sort of thing. Guess that's not an across the board SOP for all production companies. But sure, tell me again Hollywood how I'm dangerous... :-/

[Mr. K]

This guy is a walking dipsh*t but I don’t want to make this an issue with him. I am sure he is as shocked and freaked out as anyone else by this.

[1Old Pro]

"When I'm doing a training session with a performer, my main guideline, the heartbeat of the conversation, is to make sure that they are treating any weapon — whether it's a bladed weapon or a firearm — as if it could potentially kill somebody. And those are usually the words I use," said UCLA's Williams. "It's a serious situation and everyone's got to be on their game." Hollywood adheres to Safety Bulletins, written and distributed by the Industry-Wide Labor-Management Safety Committee, for standards on weapon and prop safety, as well as other rules. In the first bulletin addressing firearms and the use of blank ammunition, the document notes prominently: "TREAT ALL FIREARMS AS THOUGH THEY ARE LOADED." It goes on to say live ammunition is to never be used nor brought onto a set. https://www.npr.org/2021/10/22/1048295916/props-gun-death-injuries-rust-movie-set-rare