Bultaco Loc: Aiken, SC

mindzye Loc: WV

Ultimately it is the responsibility of the user to maintain control of the tool at hand - car, nail gun, drill - in this case an article of force. A car is basically a guided missile. Used carelessly, irresponsibly or through inexperience, it is a catastrophe waiting to happen. A wrong turn can be misguided or unintentional. Still a wrong turn.

Question: why was the gun pointed at an 'off scene' videographer in the first place? Intentional/ misguided? It appears to be an extremely (regretfully so ) haphazard action on the actor's part; though maybe not so unintentional?? Just a thought

As in the foregoing comment re: attorneys, it will be interesting to see if this (motive) is brought up in trial.

And the gun is not the problem. It is the user and training/ experience/ intention. As if I can blame the tableware manufactures for a weight problem.

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

It’s simple. Those responsible are whoever brought a real firearm onto the set, the prop manager for firearms, and Baldwin for being careless (like the rest) and not checking.

Burtzy Loc: Bronx N.Y. & Simi Valley, CA

An actor wouldn't know a live round from a blank. He would only see that there is something in the chamber. He should never have pointed it at anyone but the armorer has at least equal responsibilty.

PixHound Loc: Marietta, GA

While not surprised that real firearms might be used by actors, I cannot imagine any scenario where live ammo should EVER be on a set. One can only guess that someone brought it to do some casual target shooting with the "prop" guns. But whatever the reason, that individual assumes some responsibility for this tragic death.

Reporting on this case said there was a prior "accident" on that set with live ammo. If that is true, all weapons and ammo should have been immediately collected and checked, and all live ammo removed from the set. The negligent individual should then have been fired, and legal action initiated.

Baldwin knew, or should have known of this incident, and was the person responsible for taking corrective actions. IMHO, the fact that he failed to take these common sense actions, makes him directly responsible for this death, even if he had not been the one to pull the trigger.

This failure, coupled with clear violations of basic gun safety (by failing to check the gun himself, and actually firing at a person) certainly makes him qualify for serious jail time. Checking a gun is not rocket surgery. It is easy to learn and takes very little time. Trusting another to perform this step violates a basic gun safety rule.

ChuckKarp

This is from the website of
"John Fox - Motion Picture Armourer and Weapons Specialist for the Film and Television Industry"
and was written long before the Rust production shooting.

"the Armourer is also Legally Responsible for the safety of all cast and crew on the film
set when any firearms are being used.
Some of these responsibilities are defined by Law in the Firearms Act or the Armourers Licence
and others are dictated by the "on set" requirements of the Camera and physical positions of
the cast & crew on the set"
They had production crew walk off the set and I personally have a feeling that someone placed
live rounds with intent to sabotage the set. I will never understand why they would have real guns
on the set anyway. A plugged barrel replica would have solved this.

Toby

I'll go one better. Why have any guns that can be fired on the set. I am sure with todays technology fake guns can be made. I have a starter pistol that matches a real gun in looks, shoots blanks and has a plugged barrel so that it cannot fire a real bullet.

RoswellAlien

The shooter. Anything else is an excuse to save his ass. All guns are loaded.

Dannj

Agree but why was there any live ammo on the set?

sgt hop Loc: baltimore md,now in salisbury md

the shooter...always check a firearm if handed to you....no matter who says what.....

Woodworm65 Loc: Lombard, IL

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Woodworm65 Loc: Lombard, IL

When my father allowed me to go hunting and handle a firearm I was taught the following.
#1 Always treat a firearm even if it’s not loaded as if it is
#2 Never point the gun and have your finger on the trigger in anyone’s direction
#3 Always check if the gun is loaded never assume it is not
If any of the above was followed by the people enrolled in this tragic accident no one would be having thi conversation, and yes AB should be charged with involuntary manslaughter.

sgt hop Loc: baltimore md,now in salisbury md

correct.....

tbrad57 Loc: Cottonwood, AZ

I coach Scholastic Clays Target Program. Everyone of our kids have to learn TAB+1.
Treat every firearm as if it were loaded.
Always keep the muzzle in a safe direction.
Be sure of your target and beyond.
+1 Keep your finger outside the trigger guard until ready to shoot

I addition they must check the firearm to make sure it's action is clear when picking it up or handing it off to someone else. Then that person is to verify that the firearm is safe and not loaded also.

The last person to handle the firearm is responsible for what happens and there are no excuses.

The other do's of firearm safety are:

Check your barrel and ammunition.
Unload firearm when not in use.
Point a firearm only at something you intend to shoot.
Don't run, jump, or climb with a loaded firearm.
Store firearms and ammunition separately and safely.
Don't drink alcoholic beverages before or during shooting.