Topline
Alec Baldwin took to social media Monday to declare that police officers should be present on any sets that use guns, weeks after the actor and producer shot and killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza on the set of his movie Rust when he discharged a prop gun.
Actor Alec Baldwin walks on Main Street on January 25, 2020 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Ray … [+]
Key Facts
Baldwin posted on Twitter and on Instagram that every film or TV set where guns are being used, “fake or otherwise, should have a police officer on set, hired by the production, to specifically monitor weapons safety.”
The actor and producer for Rust has made several recent public statements regarding the shooting: On Saturday, Baldwin tweeted an article from The Wrap about disparaging statements former President Trump made about Baldwin and his role in the incident.
Last week, Baldwin shared screenshots of a post made by someone who allegedly worked on the Rust set that contradicted claims of mistreatment of the crew members and defended the actions of the producers.
Key Background
The day after the shooting, Baldwin released a statement that he was devastated over the “tragic accident.” He said he was “fully cooperating” with the authorities. Last week he repeated that, telling reporters that he is in touch with members of the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Department daily. Baldwin was in contact with Hutchins’ widower Matthew Hutchins shortly after the shooting. Last week, Matthew Hutchins hired lawyers from the Panish Shea Boyle Ravipudi, a firm that specializes in injury and wrongful death cases, a representative from the law firm confirmed to Forbes.
Tangent
Baldwin is not the only one commenting on the shooting. Lawyers for assistant director Dave Halls, who handed Baldwin the gun and told him it was safe to use, appeared on Fox News last week and claimed that their client was “not responsible” for weapons safety on set, even though Halls told police that he was. Lawyers for the armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed — who loaded the weapon — also appeared on TV last week, in an interview with the Today show, during which they floated the possibility that live ammunition was put in the gun as an act of sabotage.
Further Reading
Was ‘Rust’ Shooting An Act Of ‘Sabotage’? Lawyers Armorer Raise Theory (Forbes)
Alec Baldwin Shares Social Media Post Defending ‘Rust’ Producers Against Allegations Of Mistreatment (Forbes)
Rust’ Assistant Director Not Responsible For Gun, Lawyer Claims—And Other Updates (Forbes)
