Good day all. Last week there was a tragic accident on the set of a western film in production. Somehow, a loaded gun was presented to an actor, Alec Baldwin, who was told it was cold, (Unloaded), who then accidentally shot and killed a cinematographer and wounded the director.
The investigation is on going. However, it has come out that any number of very basic safety procedures were ignored. The information on what, exactly, happened is still being gathered, but it’s pretty obvious that the most basic safety rules taught to ANYONE who has touched a gun were not followed by either the individual who handed the gun to Baldwin and declared it cold, or by Baldwin himself. To review, here are the Four Rules of Firearms Safety.
1. Always Keep Firearm Pointed in a Safe direction.
This can’t be stressed enough. When you are handling a firearm, do not “Clown around.” Never point a gun at anyone or anything unless you are going to put a hole in it. (Or you are Alec Baldwin) When I’ve gone to a gun store and have been handling their products, I know they are unloaded, but I still will make sure that I am not pointing the firearm in any direction where I might hit someone if it should go off. I’ve even had sales clerk start to walk in front of me as I’m holding the firearm and I will immediately tip it up toward the ceiling until they walk past. Then give them a piercing stare.
2. Treat All Guns as Though They are Loaded
This can not be stressed enough. It doesn’t matter of the slide is locked back and the magazine removed, or the cylinder is opened and you can visually see that there are no projectiles in the firearm, you must assume that there are. Since you are assuming that it is loaded, even though you know it isn’t, you also remember Rule 1. (Unless you’re Alec Baldwin)
3. Keep Your Finger Off the Trigger until You are Ready to Shoot
This is also known as “Keep your booger hook of the bang button” rule. Basically, you don’t put your trigger finger inside the trigger guard until you are actually about to pull the trigger. If you watch Television, movies and the news, you will see people who are handling firearms holding their trigger finger, usually their right index finger, along the side of the pistol, or if it’s a rifle or shotgun, they will hold it behind the trigger guard, (Or if it has a pistol grip), they will hold on to the grip below the trigger.
In movies, you can always tell the actors and actresses who have either had extensive training for their roles, or prior experience with firearms, They don’t even think about how they are holding the firearms. It’s muscle memory. The late R. Lee Ermy was a retired United States Marine with extensive training in all sorts of firearms.
Linda Hamilton received very extensive training for her role in Terminator 2. There is a video out there of her blasting away on a range with a submachine gun and it wasn’t loaded with blanks. Michael Gross is another actor with extensive training and experience thanks to his role as Bert Gummer. Even Mr. Gross can be seen making a mistake when he is using his left hand. He can be seen accidentally putting his left index finger into the trigger housing and then actively removing it. (He’s right handed)
4. Always Be Sure of Your Target and What’s Beyond It
This is basically a no-brainer. When you pull the trigger and fire a round, you own that bullet until it stops. .22 bullets can travel over a mile and larger cartridges can go even further. You also need to consider the backstop. This is usually whatever is behind your target if you are just practicing. If you’re outside, then you want a berm or a hill, something nice and tall and thick.
These are the four rules of Firearms safety. There is now a new rule being proposed.
5. Under no circumstances give Alec Baldwin a gun
Alec Baldwin is a militant anti-Second Amendment twerp. He also uses firearms in the course of making movies and TV shows. Supposedly, he has gone through all the safety training, however, he failed in all four of the basic rules. He accepted a firearm from another person and didn’t verify that it wasn’t loaded. He then pulled the trigger while pointing the gun in an unsafe direction. The firearm appears to have been loaded with a live cartridge and Baldwin shot and killed a woman handling the cameras and wounded the director. Alec Baldwin is the living, breathing embodiment of what NOT to do.
I hope this posting has provided you with the basic safety information required for handling a firearm. Please understand that this is no substitute for getting training from a certified professional. Please don’t be a certifiable idiot like Alec Baldwin.
Thatisall
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