Alec Baldwin Shooting Accident

[fender62]

what a tragedy that could have been avoided, sorry for alec and his mental turmoil.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10123003/I-wasnt-sure-ready-Doubts-head-armorer-24-charge-guns-Alec-Baldwin-film.html

[Hopkirk]

If he is handling fully functioning guns, and there is ammunition around (even blanks) then the fact he is an actor doesn't excuse him the need for following safe procedures.

[AuntPG]

I didn't excuse him, I offered an explanation of what may have happened.

[Hopkirk]

Fair enough.

[Mozz71]

//Why should an incident with live ammo see the end of Blanks on set?//

Because if blanks are no longer used it removes the possibility of live round "accidentally" being used. Which bit of that do you not understand?

[Hopkirk]

Sorry Mozz, but you are not making sense. A live round has a bullet.

[chelle7272]

Hopkirk he is handed the gun and told it is a 'cold' gun, i.e. no live rounds. He is not an expert, in fact I think Alec Baldwin is anti guns, so why should it be down to him to check? That's not how it works.

[Mozz71]

Hopkirk, in this instance, it seems that a live round was used instead of blanks. If the practice of using blanks is stopped and replaced by adding effects post production, then there is no chance of a mix up happening.

Just use non-firing prop guns and the risk is zero.

[Smowball]

Why didn’t the guy who handed Baldwin the gun check it??

[THECORBYLOON]

If CGI is not used, perhaps blanks should have to be a specific colour (completely different from any other bullets or cartridges on the market) and then put into the empty firearm in front of the person about to use it?

There would be the risk of shrapnel still but at least the firearm would not contain a live projectile, in theory, anyway.

[Hopkirk]

I'm not sure we know all the facts yet. You are suggesting Mozz that he thought it had a blank not a live round.
If he was told it was a cold gun, that to me suggests a gun with no round of any sort.

It may not be the way it works, chelle, but clearly it should be. If they are using operational firearms that are at times loaded with live rounds or blanks, then a foolproof system is needed. The actors need to be trained to check the firearms are unloaded themselves.

[naomi24]

Hopkirk, the thousands of guns used for theatre/movies would normally NEVER be loaded with live ammunition. Actors shouldn’t be required to be trained in safe use of firearms. The suggestion is ridiculous. Something untoward has happened here.

[Mozz71]

Hopkirk- //I'm not sure we know all the facts yet. You are suggesting Mozz that he thought it had a blank not a live round.//

Please clarify what you meant there Hoppy. It almost sounds that you're suggesting the possibility that Baldwin knew it was a live round and shot the DOP deliberately.

[THECORBYLOON]

I have seen three different meanings of "cold gun".

One meaning is, "it is safe to use" but does that mean it's empty or it's safe because it has blanks?

Another is that it contains only blanks.

The final one is that the firearm contains no ammunition.

That confusion alone could lead to injuries or death.

[Hazi-Hammenuhoth]

Why the sympathy for the perpetrator? What about the victim's family?!

[Mozz71]

Hazi- //Why the sympathy for the perpetrator? What about the victim's family?!//

As has been said previously, one can have sympathy for more than one person. Sympathies towards the friends and family of the victim have also been expressed multiple times.

[AuntPG]

// Why the sympathy for the perpetrator? //

There was no 'perpetrator' what a ridiculous statement -it was an accident!

[Mozz71]

//There was no 'perpetrator' what a ridiculous statement -it was an accident!//

Bit harsh wasn't it? Then again, after Ynna saying it's karma for Baldwin's Trump impressions on SNL, then nothing surprises me on here anymore.

[AuntPG]

No it wasn't harsh -unless you want it to be of course Mozz -perhaps you can be 'offended' on behalf of the poster. 'Perpetrator' suggests the shooting was carried out unlawfully and with intent -and that IS ridiculous!

[Mozz71]

Polly, I meant Hazi's post was harsh, not your response.

[royfromaus]

Regarding the suggestion of using a "tripod, cable release or wireless remote", if a live round is in the barrel, a live round will leave the barrel.

As a cable or tripod would need to be removed from the scene digitally, CGI might as well be used in the first place.
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