The Manslaughter Case Against Alec Baldwin Is Not Going Well at All

MSN ^ | 3/17/23 | Victoria Bekiempis

[DeathBeforeDishonor1]

On March 14, yet another twist unfolded in the New Mexico manslaughter case against Alec Baldwin over the Rust set shooting when special prosecutor Andrea Reeb announced she was stepping down from her role. “After much reflection, I have made the difficult decision to step down as special prosecutor in the Rust case. My priority in this case — and in every case I’ve prosecuted in my 25-year career — has been justice for the victim,” Reeb said in a statement. “However, it has become clear that the best way I can ensure justice is served in this case is to step down so that the prosecution can focus on the evidence and the facts, which clearly show a complete disregard for basic safety protocols [that] led to the death of Halyna Hutchins.” Reeb also said, “I will not allow questions about my serving as a legislator and prosecutor to cloud the real issue at hand.”

Reeb’s departure in the middle of a high-profile proceeding comes amid other legal plot turns that seem in Baldwin’s favor, raising questions about whether New Mexico prosecutors have enough to pursue the manslaughter case.

[DoughtyOne]

Good comments. Thanks for the post.

Good points in there to take note of.

[Yo-Yo]

Halyna and Hannah are easy to mix up. No prob, FRiend!

[DoughtyOne]

Thank you Yo-Yo.

It nice to see the familiar names of folks I’ve been aware
of for several decades now. Yes, friends indeed.

[schurmann]

“Good comments. Thanks for the post.
Good points in there to take note of.” [DoughtyOne, post 61]

Many thanks for the courteous reply.

Gun safety cannot reach perfection, but we can always improve it.

More and more replica arms appear every year. Thanks to films & TV, print publications & the internet, they are glamorous, mechanically interesting and historically consequential. But few incorporate even the most basic safety features found on many more-modern arms. Basic safety rules apply - with at least as much importance.

Many replicas don’t even qualify as “firearms” in a legal sense, but they can be every bit as lethal if mishandled. “Real” black powder is more sensitive to shock, static discharge, and sparks than nitro propellants, and must be handled in loose form in many muzzle loaders. Extra measures of caution and safety-consciousness are warranted, welcome, and prudent.

Sam Colt put his revolver on the market in 1836. Except for minor aspects of shape, materials, manufacture, and finish, the design and function of the internal lockwork remains unchanged to this day. Many gunmakers copied it, adding only minor safety features (if that much). Many others brought out their own designs, but few added safety features of any importance. Caution, care, and coolness are the watchwords for anyone handling, loading, carrying or firing these revolvers, be they cap-and-ball or cartridge types.

The most critical safety practice: load only five chambers out of six (or four out of five, if it’s a five-shooter; many smaller pocket-size pieces were). Then position the empty chamber under the hammer. If the hammer spur is struck, or parts fail, the chances of a negligent discharge is thus minimized.

I acknowledge we’ve small chance of convincing actors to grow up, pay attention and follow rules - personalities like Alec Baldwin especially. But at least we can commit ourselves to those rules, and spread proper practices to others. Shoot safe.

[Flight55511]

This IS a messy case to me, because I believe there was no intent on anyone’s part to hurt anyone.

That said, there is culpability and I say almost all of it goes to the armorer. That was her job foremost.

However, he appears to have been the one that hired her, so he gets some blame too. I’d slap him with a $10k fine and year of probation. I’m not going to be upset really if he gets more or less though.