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Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 5,705
Registered: ‎10-19-2012

Re: Alec Baldwin to be charged with Involuntary Manslaughter in Rust Shooting!

@Mj12 "He had an obligation as a human being to do a safety check when he picked it up - it doesn't matter if it was a real gun, fake gun, whether he was assured there were no live rounds, whatever.  He was planning on pointing the gun at someone and firing; some responsibility is on him (in addition to the armorer)."

 

 

 

I agree with you.  There are certain things that you cannot entrust with others to take care of.  Alec Baldwin should have checked the gun himself.  

Honored Contributor
Posts: 18,134
Registered: ‎06-09-2014

Re: Alec Baldwin to be charged with Involuntary Manslaughter in Rust Shooting!

@Linmo If he selected the armorer or had any say in her being on set, I withdraw my post. I don't think I have heard that said yet, but if true, I can see the charge. 

 

The sad thing is that it will probably go to a negotiated plea deal with no jail time, possible probation, and a huge fine after all is said and done.

 

This is all for nothing except grandstanding for the prosecutors and a big money grab for the county.

Respected Contributor
Posts: 3,937
Registered: ‎08-31-2019

Re: Alec Baldwin to be charged with Involuntary Manslaughter in Rust Shooting!


@lgfan wrote:

@Mj12 "He had an obligation as a human being to do a safety check when he picked it up - it doesn't matter if it was a real gun, fake gun, whether he was assured there were no live rounds, whatever.  He was planning on pointing the gun at someone and firing; some responsibility is on him (in addition to the armorer)."

 

 

 

I agree with you.  There are certain things that you cannot entrust with others to take care of.  Alec Baldwin should have checked the gun himself.  


@lgfan It became clear to him, real quick, that he should have inspected the weapon, too. That's when he suddenly claimed he 'never pulled the trigger,' which authorities say is not possible with this weapon.

 

Honesty is always the best policy. It just made everyone doubt everything else he had to say about the incident. 

Respected Contributor
Posts: 3,961
Registered: ‎06-24-2011

Re: Alec Baldwin to be charged with Involuntary Manslaughter in Rust Shooting!

These are from the law enforcement documents that the LA Times posted...

 

 

According to law enforcement documents, during a rehearsal the film’s assistant director, Dave Halls, had handed Baldwin a replica of a vintage Colt .45 pistol, pronouncing it “cold,” meaning there was no ammunition inside. But the gun contained dummy rounds, and at least one lead bullet.

 

Gutierrez Reed (the armorer), according to affidavits filed by the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office, had loaded the weapons that day, but she told sheriff’s detectives that she didn’t realize that actual bullets were contained in a new box of ammunition that arrived on set that day.

 

Gutierrez Reed told sheriff’s detectives that although she checked Baldwin’s gun that day before the unscheduled rehearsal, she “didn’t really check it too much,” because the weapon had been locked in a safe during a lunch break.

 

From the law enforcement docs, it appears that the armorer Gutierrez Reed put at least one real bullet in the gun.

 

If there's a trial for the actor, I hope objective jurors (without jealousy or animosity against him) are chosen.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 9,733
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Alec Baldwin to be charged with Involuntary Manslaughter in Rust Shooting!

He was supposed to be handed a gun with dummy rounds.  He just took it and filmed the scene/shot the gun (yes he pulled the trigger).  He should have checked it first to ensure that there were infact dummy rounds in there.  He could have shaken the gun to tell.  Just a million mistakes happened by several people, and that poor young woman is dead.  

Respected Contributor
Posts: 2,265
Registered: ‎09-18-2010

Re: Alec Baldwin to be charged with Involuntary Manslaughter in Rust Shooting!

[ Edited ]

@Laura14   I feel the same as you!  The armorer is the one who mis responsible for the weapon as well as the ammunition.

 

I am not a fan of Alec Baldwin but he as well as his wife should have not made any public comments regarding what happened.  Silence would have been the best path.

 

Apparently, the armorer was unable to tell the difference between a dummy bullet and a live bullet and she loaded a live bullet into the gun.  She's is supposed to be the expert, not Baldwin and he is not known as someone experienced with guns.  I know I would not be able to tell the difference by sight.  I would rely on the expert.

Valued Contributor
Posts: 763
Registered: ‎08-22-2019

Re: Alec Baldwin to be charged with Involuntary Manslaughter in Rust Shooting!

@Desert Lily  my analogy is this. If a nurse hung a bag of saline tainted with poison and the patient died, is the nurse responsible? Did the nurse think she was holding a deadly weapon in her hand when she connected that liquid to the patient's vein?

 

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 7,212
Registered: ‎03-11-2010

Re: Alec Baldwin to be charged with Involuntary Manslaughter in Rust Shooting!

Baldwin's interview with George Stephanopouls was a mistake. I didn't see the interview, but reading about how it went, turned me against Baldwin.

 

It showed me that he is careless, arrogant and not very bright. His attitude during the investigation didn't help him with the public. Baldwin might have gotten some empathy if he had shown remorse instead of making himself out to be the victim. But that's not who he is, and people take notice. 

"The more I learn about people, the more I like my dog."

Mark Twain
Valued Contributor
Posts: 763
Registered: ‎08-22-2019

Re: Alec Baldwin to be charged with Involuntary Manslaughter in Rust Shooting!


@teganslaw wrote:

Baldwin's interview with George Stephanopouls was a mistake. I didn't see the interview, but reading about how it went, turned me against Baldwin.

 

It showed me that he is careless, arrogant and not very bright. His attitude during the investigation didn't help him with the public. Baldwin might have gotten some empathy if he had shown remorse instead of making himself out to be the victim. But that's not who he is, and people take notice. 


There are plenty of pompous arrogant people around. We don't convict them of crimes because of it. 

Whether we think he was remorseful enough is not a reason for charges.

Part of me feels the DA had to do this to satisfy the blood lust of people who want to string up others for personal reasons. Don't have to look far to see it.

Respected Contributor
Posts: 3,937
Registered: ‎08-31-2019

Re: Alec Baldwin to be charged with Involuntary Manslaughter in Rust Shooting!

@Laura14 This was a movie set on a strict budget. From what I read early on, this was the first movie gig, for the inexperienced young armorer, Hannah. Perhaps she had a lower salary benefiting the budget.

 

If so, I think she would have needed more monitoring and safety checks, than for someone very experienced. She should have been the only one handling the weapons and placing them in the hands of the actors. This wasn't the case.

 

I also wonder what happened to an early report I read, where it was claimed that, in moments of boredom, staff were shooting targets with live rounds out in the desert. Stands to reason to me, that some guys might have been doing so.

 

Suddenly that report disappeared from media, with all staff claiming there were no live rounds on the set. Well, clearly there was, and I'm beginning to believe the earlier story. Lots of passing blame, secrets and denial, on that set. 

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