Alec Baldwin Describes What Happened on ‘Rust’ Set: “I Let Go of the Hammer and ‘Bang,’ the Gun Goes Off”

Hollywood Reporter ^ | 12/2/2021 | Alex Weprin

[marcusmaximus]

In his first sit-down interview since the shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the New Mexico set of his film Rust, an emotional Alec Baldwin gave a detailed timeline of exactly what happened that day, and broke down in tears while remembering Hutchins.

-snip-

“She was standing next to the camera, looking at a monitor … guiding me for how to hold the gun for this angle,” Baldwin said. “The gun wasn’t meant to be fired in that angle. I am holding the gun where I was told to hold it, which was right below her armpit. An angle that might not be filmed at all.”

Baldwin says that Hutchins told him to begin cocking the hammer for a particular shot.

“I pulled the hammer as far back as I could without cocking the gun,” Baldwin said. “I let go of the hammer and bang, the gun goes off.”

[circlecity]

George Clooney said whenever he is handed a gun on the set he opens the chamber and inspects both it and the ammunition and also shows it the other actors he is working with before the scene is shot.

[JD_UTDallas]

You obviously have been owned or fired one of those old guns. The cylinder is aligned under the hammer when it falls. Why because cocking the hammer back advances the cylinder and locks it only when the hammer is fully back it does not advance it on the way down. If you pull the hammer to half cock it only advances the cylinder less than half way as half sick is only a term it’s not literally half cock it’s more like a quarter. If the hammer is released from half sick the cylinder will rotate backwards to it’s original position under the hammer as neither the advancement paw nor the catchment sear has been fully engaged until the hammer is all the way back. I’m not going to argue this is 140 year old proven problem for these types of guns. YouTube it there are a dozen examples of single action going off half cocked or the older models don’t even have half cock sears if you let the hammer go at any point before fully cocked it will slam back and fire a round. Look up thread I already posted a video of one of these guns going off without the trigger even being touched. I own two of these types of revolver both will go off of the hammer is let go from half cock fogger no where near the trigger they completely lack transfer bar or pin safety they have live pins sitting on live primers. This is the reason all modern revolvers have pin safety mechanisms. Google it you will find dozens of videos of this issue.

[gloryblaze]

Thank you. That was very informative.

[central_va]

I am holding my UNLOADED colt 1851 in my hand right now. What you describe CANNOT happen. I am trying to do it. I am doing it now.

[JD_UTDallas]

Not a chance, he was handed a cold gun. The liability is not his. He is not qualified to verify a weapons is cold or not. I don’t care what you think get back to me when he is convicted he won’t be.There is no precedence to charge an actor who was handed a cold gun certified by the professional armor who’s very job it is to verify that. Let me say it again he is not qualified to verify a weapons is cold period he lacks those credentials. God people are stupid.

[Political Junkie Too]

I called it back on October 28:

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Now that we know it was a single-action Colt 45 replica gun, I'm thinking that Baldwin was pulling the hammer back with his thumb while drawing the pistol, and in the afternoon New Mexico heat his hand was probably sweaty, the hammer slipped and snapped back and set off the round in the chamber.

He probably never actually pulled the trigger.

---

-PJ

[JD_UTDallas]

If Clooney does that he does it with the armor present which would be fine.There is no way an armor or.director would let an actor open a weapon unsupervised that’s a HUGE security breach they could swap in live rounds. There is a chain of custody that on set weapons follow once declared cold they are not opened again.If an actor wants to personally verify that they do it with the armor present and then they are declared cold again by said armor they are the first and last word on it on set.

[JonPreston]

The liability is not his.

Your argument that it's the gun's fault is reminiscent of those excuses the left makes, and in fact one Baldwin is using. Please go away. You're embarrassing yourself.

[JD_UTDallas]

Is that a real 1851 or a replica? If it’s a real 1851 load a cap and ball with powder point it somewhere safe. Pull the hammer back till it just hits the half cock tension point and let it go. Both of my 1865 one in 45 the other in 38 will fire from that point. If you have a replica it was probably built with modern internal safety bar. The weapon in question on this set comes in two models the modern replica form with internal safety bar and the historically accurate version without any safety

This is what happens with the historically accurate version if you drop the hammer by not seating it to it’s cocked sear point or hit that hammer on a live round in the chamber.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?t=155&v=ldHPNnsp-cs&feature=youtu.be

[refermech]

Not hating on her at all. Just think this is how it will play out with the information that I have. It will all have to be adjudicated. Perhaps nobody will be found at fault, within a reasonable doubt.

[JD_UTDallas]

You lack reading comprehension skills. Which is a common problem on this board must be lack of higher education. I never said it was the guns fault. It is the armor fault for certifying and declaring a cold gun on set when there were live rounds in it. The fact that it went off with improper handing is secondary to the criminal negligence of that armor certifying and declaring publicly the weapons was cold. The grand jury should true bill a negligence charge on the armor the completely failed in their primary mission. The actor is not qualified to verify a weapons is cold they can with the actors permission look for themselves some actors do but then the weapon is recertified by the armor to make sure the actor didn’t slip in live rounds or anyone else once the weapon is opened it must be certified again by the armor that should not be too hard to comprehend.

[BushCountry]

“In the film industry you often point firearm at live people and shoot live blanks at them as well.”

Nonsense! Ever since Brandon Lee got accidentally shot this is no longer the case. Actors are no longer allowed to point a gun directly at another actor. It is all done with trick photography and angles. A lot of actors don’t even hold a gun, the objects they hold are replaced in post-production.

[Sir Bangaz Cracka]

What we are finally hearing from the “innocent” Baldwin, is the result of countless hours of focus grouping. His team has refined and precisely tweaked his talking points. Now, we will be “encouraged” to believe what he says...if not, we are simply right wing haters that have it out for the guy because he did not like Trump.

[JonPreston]

It is the armor fault for certifying and declaring a cold gun on set when there were live rounds in it.

First, you have no idea the gun was certified. If you do, present it. Second, *any* liability ultimately ends with the handler. Any windy explanation about the gun, rather than Baldwin's reckless conduct is an attempt to impress yourself.

[maxwellsmart_agent]

If you pull the hammer back far enough to roll the cartridge in front of the firing pin, the hammer locks. What he is saying is impossible to have happened. He pulled the trigger and is lying.

[nuke_road_warrior]

Idiot. Even with an old style colt Single Action, the half-cock notch should catch the hammer, unless of course the trigger were pulled. No I do not advocate relying on half-cock to prevent a negligent discharge, but pointing out we still haven't got the whole story.

[skimbell]

Bet he had his finger on the trigger. Pulled the hammer back and the finger kept the trigger from fully cocking. Remove the thumb from the hammer and...well you know.

[BushCountry]

The rule in Hollywood is never point a gun at ANYONE - ANYTIME. Everything is handled in post and angles!

Perhaps the closest to a list of suggested rules is that published by the Industry-Wide Labor-Management Safety Committee.

Its advice includes:

Blanks can kill. Treat all firearms as though they are loaded

Refrain from pointing a firearm at yourself or anyone else

Never place your finger on the trigger unless you’re ready to shoot

Anyone involved in using a firearm must be thoroughly briefed at an on-set safety meeting

Only a qualified person should load a firearm

Protective shields, eye and hearing protection should be used by anyone in close proximity or the line of fire

Any actor who is required to stand near the line of fire should be allowed to witness the loading of the firearms

[central_va]

It is a replica.

[redgolum]

Depends on the style of revolver. The newer ones? Yep. My Super Redhawk has a transfer bar and a few other things where going off half cocked can’t happen.

Some of the older single action reproductions do not have that safety device.

Which one was being used? No idea. But the sheriff knows by now.

This was posted up thread. by JD_UTDallas

https://m.youtube.com/watch?t=155&v=ldHPNnsp-cs&feature=youtu.be