Anytime you handle a gun you are responsible for whatever happens.
Bingo. If anyone hands you a gun you assume it is loaded until you verify yourself it is not loaded. If he was a police officer who thought his gun was empty and accidentally killed someone, would he walk away scott free?
Yes.
The "zeroth" rule in handling firearms is that on transfer from one individual to another responsible individual is that it be passed with the action open, and no projectile in the chamber, whilst the muzzle is aimed in a safe direction however manipulated. The possessor thus verifies that the chamber is empty, and the action open for examination, which relieves him/her of responsibility for its deadliness when passed. The receiver verifies the continuity of passing safely by verifying both factors immediately upon receipt and in that assumes the sole responsibility for deploying the firearm in a safe manner.
No assumption is made as to the safety of the process except by personal verification of the condition of the device. The possessor of the firearm is alone responsible for its deployment. If the firearm is to be used with a blank, it is he/she alone who is to verify that no projectile is involved.
If the firearm used is a muzzle-loader as pictured by algore in Post #3, and not cartridge-fired, though Baldwin's verification process is more complex, he alone bears the responsibility for the result. He apparently did not receive it unloaded amd empty, and load it himself. Not to do so is assuming criminal negligence, however lightly.
The rule in this matter is:
The blame rests entirely upon Baldwin, and should be placed there if he tries to shift it. He is megligent, and with a deadly weapon, criminally so if anyone is hurt with it while in his hands, IMHO.
The same for us all in the handling of a firearm. Its possessor bears all the accountability for its manipulation.
Indeed. Very true.
A bullet has no brains. A shooter does.
Bingo.
He should not point any weapon, loaded or not, at anyone he did not intend to shoot.
Regardless, nothing will happen to him — unless the shot folks are minorities.
Exactly. At the end of the day, the gun performed as a gun is expected to perform. Balwin pointed it at a person, pulled the trigger, and the person died.
Anyone handling any gun should educate himself on the proper way to handle any gun. Ignorance is not an excuse.