Alec Baldwin, armorer to be charged over ‘Rust’ shooting

One America News ^ | January 31, 2023 | Andrew Hay (Rooters)

[Navy Patriot]

Actor Alec Baldwin and armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed will be charged on Tuesday with involuntary manslaughter for the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of Western “Rust” in 2021, a New Mexico prosecutor said.

The charges follow 15 months of speculation whether District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies would find evidence Baldwin showed criminal disregard for safety when a revolver he was rehearsing with fired a live round that killed Hutchins.

The “30 Rock” actor has denied responsibility for the shooting, saying he cocked the revolover but never pulled the trigger and it was the job of Gutierrez-Reed and other weapons professionals to ensure it was unloaded.

[A Navy Vet]

"And his father...who he was close to...taught Riflery."

Don't know if true, but I read the young woman Armorer was the daughter of a famous Armorer of Hollywood. If true, she lost her career. HER first obligation was to ensure there were NO live rounds on set. Yes, I also read that some grips or such knew it was a real pistol and went out with their own live rounds for target shooting. They should also be held accountable.

Still, the Armorer not to check the weapon for live rounds that was supposedly sitting on some tray that she didn't keep in custody, was the most egregious of all the errors. Baldwin screwed up by pointing and pulling the trigger, half cocked or not or what ever he thought...he didn't check the rounds for live, dummies, or blanks. There are many guilty parties in this senseless death.

And yet Balwin is continuing the production of the movie. You'd think he would have the honor cut his losses. I can see the ending credit, "In Memory of Her Name"

It's amazing when watching all crime and war movies with guns blasting from every scene, no gets shot in real life.

[SaveFerris]

[I am reminded of John Erik Hexum who took while fooling around on the set, took a blank loaded firearm, put it to his head, and pulled the trigger killing himself with a blank loaded firearm.]

I’ve only shot a couple of revolvers - .44 Magnum and .357 Magnum.

The .357 scared me a bit - it was quick - really quick - didn’t take much pull length(?) at all.

Now for a fully-trained person, that’s certainly advantageous.

All of my pistols are semi-auto and that’s what I’m used to shooting.

But I’ll say, that .357 was quick. Yikes.

[SaveFerris]

[And yet Baldwin is continuing the production of the movie.]

Oh my gosh...

[Navy Patriot]

There is no way on earth that Baldwin did not know gun safety

I agree with that.

I also believe that he failed to practice that gun safety personally.

I cannot speak to motive.

[BipolarBob]

He worked in Hollywood where strict gun safety protocols were enforced. He didn't want that. Too expensive when you can have employees tripling up on various duties. In Hollywood, the armorer only hands the actor/actress the gun after first checking it. Then the actor/actress checks it again. It's cheaper and faster to fly by the seat of your pants haphazardly out of state (away from Hollywood) and you do things your way. They already had two gun incidents on set. That was warning enough for most . . but not cheapskate AB.

[TomGuy]

May Alex can refer to this precedent:

The Andrews Sisters - I Didn’t Know the Gun Was Loaded

https://youtu.be/76iuJMuXWqA

[Tupelo]

Alec says it was not his job to check the gun.
He sounds like some of the old union members I once worked with.
“It ain’t my job man.”

[Navy Patriot]

The one role he had that may expose him to criminal guilt is as producer.

I agree (when I accuse Baldwin, it's "Baldwin as Producer"), and apparently The Law agrees, as well.

[Navy Patriot]

Agree.

[wardaddy]

I don’t agree with charging Baldwin

Charge armorer etc with negligent homicide

Prosecutors always overcharge hope for some glue on some of them

[SaveFerris]

The paparazzi are certainly scum but, when worlds collide...

[Navy Patriot]

Alec says it was not his job to check the gun.

Real Men, Ethical people, and The Lord Disagree.

[EEGator]

Are you stating Baldwin was the sole Producer?
What, specifically, does a Producer do?
Director?

[Navy Patriot]

I don’t agree with charging Baldwin

I understand your concern on Prosecutorial abuse, but disagree on this one.

[Chode]

Armorer, i’m willing to bet she never took so much as a Armorers Course 101 by mail.

please...

[mylife]

Good, but they are both liable.

[lodi90]

Absolutely insane to use a prop for live fire.

Since it’s Baldwin’s gig, he allowed that to happen.

---

I suspect some on location hanky panky. Partying, etc. Baldwin was probably flirting/hitting on the woman when he shot her accidentally during a rehearsal.

[anton]

Are you insane? Anyone who is handed a gun must check it for bullets. And, pointing any gun at a person who is not an intended target is just about as bad. Both negligent.

[Navy Patriot]

The Producer is the big shot that controls ALL the money, employment, jobs and working instructions on set in the making of a movie.

The producer can hire and fire anyone, on the spot, or change their jobs, working instructions and procedures on the spot.

The Director just tries to get the video and audio recordings correct per the script.

[Navy Patriot]

Actually, she's the daughter of a Armorer and Firearms Expert, and worked a lot with her father.

However she is very young for the Firearms Expert field, and over confidant on Social Media.

Also this was her first job as Head Armorer.

She was a sitting duck for manipulation by an Arrogant Producer like Baldwin because she was trying to break intto the business, and she didn't know when to Resign for her own personal good.