ALEC BALDWIN'S LAME IDEA FOR MOVIE SET SAFETY

by Bob Walsh

Adam Baldwin, asswipe extraordinaire, has decide to grace us with his idea for making movie sets safe for idiots like himself.  His idea is that all firearms should be under the control of a police officer.

Trouble with this notion is that cops are, with very few exceptions, woefully ignorant about firearms except whatever it is that they might be personally carrying.  A properly trained and properly supported specialty armorer, who knows the weapons, knows the ammunition and knows the training to handle the gun's safely really is the way to go.  

That person must be willing to tell the actors NO.  He / she must be wiling to tell the producer(s) and director(s) NO.  He / she must be willing and competent to help set up the shots allowing for knowledge of the limitations of the equipment.  He / she must have adequate administrative support from the producer(s) and director(s) and must have absolute control over the weapons and ammunition on the set.  

At least some of this didn't happen on the set of RUST.  Prior to the fatal they had three negligent discharges with prop guns.  One of those resulted in an injury to the shooter.  The prop guns were used for recreational shooting by cast and crew during off hours with live ammunition.  None of these red flags produced the required response from the set armorer.  She should have said WAIT A DAMN MINUTE HERE and if she was not listened to she should have walked.  

Putting a cop into the mix would not solve these problems.