This is somewhat awkward in that the points I set to illuminate apply to the anti-gun, pro-gun control groups as well as target shooters, military, hunters, and other pro-gun groups. No, I have not dropped my conservative principles and drank from the poisoned liberal Kool-Aid… If I manage to influence one person to stop and think before picking up a firearm and conduct themselves responsibly then my purpose has been served. Please read thru to the end as there are several important aspects of common principles to get across.
As a disclosure, I am not a fan of the actor due to the observation of anti-gun hypocritical statements in interviews, tweets, etc. Very liberal, very anti-gun. This is not about personalities or ideologies. Unless there is some bizarre twist to the circumstances currently, we can assume that all involved on the movie set would be very upset over what happened, and did not start out the day expecting it to happen. It is a tragedy in the death of Halyna Hutchins, and the wounding of Joel Souza. I do not infer in any way that the actor would have intended this outcome.
The main point I wish to convey is that of personal responsibility when it comes to picking up, using, operating any item that is capable of lethal results and or unintended bodily harm. The news is emphasizing the chain of possession of the weapon and who might have tampered with it, or were proper procedures followed. Nothing against competent armorers or prop technicians, but something we in the pro firearm community are intimately aware of is that the most important and final responsibility rests upon the person who receives or picks up the firearm. In principle, this applies to knives, dangerous machinery, other weapons, etc…
Alec Baldwin, arguably in ignorance accepted the weapon as a “cold gun” as reported, as well as confirmation by those in control of it prior. The act of negligence still rests with the actor for not examining the chamber or cylinder (reported as a period piece, so likely a wheel gun) and confirming that all cartridges were in fact blanks. A consummate professional actor or any responsible person would insist that the weapon be shown/presented to them in a safe condition and then, only then take possession of it. Some of us might have further insisted on fully unloading and then reloading the prop gun to confirm fully for our own satisfaction. It will be the task of the DA, lawyers, and judges to sort out the charges and we’ll see if the equal application under the law applies.
The basic firearm safety rules are bible speak amongst sportsmen groups, military, target shooting community, and heavily promoted by the NSSF and NRA. There are too many others to list but rest assured. firearm safety is part of the culture. It is one of the very few activities where the participants expect zero tolerance for any mishap, where one is too many. Given that the number of firearms and the number of people who use them, the actual occurrence in legal uses is extremely low. That is of little solace to those injured or killed when it occurs.
For everyone who may come across a firearm and are not familiar, please take it upon yourself to learn these safety and handling tenets. For the rest of us, it is a normal and expected PSA.
GOLDEN RULES FOR SAFE GUN HANDLING
- Always treat the gun as loaded.
- Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.
- Always keep your finger straight and off the trigger until you are ready to shoot.
- Always keep the gun unloaded until you are ready to use it.
- Never point the gun at anything you don’t intend to destroy.
- Be sure of your target and what is beyond it.
- Learn the mechanical and handling characteristics of the gun you are using.
- Always use proper Ammunition.
- Be sure the barrel is clear of obstructions before loading and shooting.
- If your gun fails to fire when the trigger is pulled, hold your shooting position for several seconds; then with the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, carefully unload the gun.
- Don’t rely on the gun’s safety to keep it from firing.
- Be aware of your surroundings when handling guns so you don’t trip or lose your balance and accidentally point and/or fire the gun at anyone or anything.
-MJ
© 2021 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media
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