In response to Alec Baldwin’s bombshell claim in his ABC News interview that he did not pull the trigger on the gun that, in his telling of it, just discharged and killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Medoza told Fox News that “guns just don’t go off”:
Alec Baldwin's claim he didn't pull trigger on 'Rust' questioned by sheriff: 'Guns don't just go off'https://t.co/4qGycyEJoB
— Fox News (@FoxNews) December 2, 2021
From Fox News:
“Guns don’t just go off,” Sheriff Adan Mendoza told Fox News Digital. “So whatever needs to happen to manipulate the firearm, he did that and it was in his hands.”
So, maybe the hammer was cocked *before* Baldwin drew the gun?
The fourth search warrant released by the Santa Fe Sheriff’s Department shows armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed suggested someone on the set had potentially pulled the hammer back on the .45 Colt revolver during her interviews with police.
For what it’s worth, “Rust” assistant director Dave Halls also claimed that Baldwin did not pull the trigger:
EXCLUSIVE: An attorney for "Rust" assistant director Dave Halls says she was told by her client that actor Alec Baldwin did not pull the trigger on the prop gun that discharged on the film's set, killing one crew member and injuring another. https://t.co/3ZGdSXKYmE
— ABC News (@ABC) December 2, 2021
Twitchy regular and gun expert Stephen Gutowski tweeted that he’s “highly skeptical about claims” like the one Baldwin made:
This is possible if the gun had some kind of serious mechanical issue. But, I'm highly skeptical about claims like this. It should be easy for police to tell if the gun in question could fire without the trigger being pulled. https://t.co/vAzLBY26ao
— Stephen Gutowski (@StephenGutowski) December 1, 2021
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But the Los Angeles Times did report on other “misfires” with this same gun:
A colleague was so alarmed by the prop gun misfires that he sent a text message to the unit production manager. “We’ve now had 3 accidental discharges. This is super unsafe,” according to a copy of the message reviewed by The Times.
Baldwin’s stunt double accidentally fired two rounds Saturday after being told that the gun was “cold” — lingo for a weapon that doesn’t have any ammunition, including blanks — two crew members who witnessed the episode told the Los Angeles Times.
“There should have been an investigation into what happened,” a crew member said. “There were no safety meetings. There was no assurance that it wouldn’t happen again. All they wanted to do was rush, rush, rush.”
We really need to know more about these prior incidents, Gutowski added:
Yea, more insight into exactly what happened with those misfires would give us a better understanding of what happened with the fatal shooting.
— Stephen Gutowski (@StephenGutowski) December 1, 2021
But, although Gutowski was skeptical of Baldwin’s claim, it *is* possible as he outlined in this thread:
It's true that very old single-action revolvers have more issues with accidental discharges. The gun used in this incident was a replica made by Pietta, according to police. Those guns should have transfer bars in them that address the safety issue. https://t.co/iln5F4ITHQ
— Stephen Gutowski (@StephenGutowski) December 1, 2021
The police should be able to determine pretty easily if the gun has a transfer bar or not. And how prone it would be to fire without the trigger being pulled when it's drawn from a holster.
— Stephen Gutowski (@StephenGutowski) December 1, 2021
As some in the mentions have pointed out, Pietta still makes replicas without transfer bars. I certainly hope they weren't using a gun like that on set. But, it does increase the chances of the gun firing without the trigger being pulled. I still find it unlikely.
— Stephen Gutowski (@StephenGutowski) December 1, 2021
Here is how an original-mechanism single-action revolver can fire without the trigger being pulled. It still requires a significant jolt to do so. But, this is what it looks like: https://t.co/TxWVDFOBZK
— Stephen Gutowski (@StephenGutowski) December 1, 2021
This is why you need to know the exact details of guns you're handling, especially in a professional setting like a movie set. Even I was too dismissive of this possibility when I first commented on it despite owning a single-action replica (with a hammer block) myself.
— Stephen Gutowski (@StephenGutowski) December 1, 2021
I knew of the cowboy load (leaving the chamber under the hammer of a single-action revolver empty), but only in the context of carrying a gun for fear of accidental discharges. I still think it's unlikely when drawing a gun from a holster, but more likely than I first thought.
— Stephen Gutowski (@StephenGutowski) December 1, 2021
The full interview airs tonight on ABC News:
.@GStephanopoulos: “So you never pulled the trigger?”
Alec Baldwin: “No, I would never point a gun at anyone and pull a trigger at them, never.”
Watch "Alec Baldwin: Unscripted" TONIGHT 8pm ET on ABC and stream later on @hulu. https://t.co/u7L88vylra pic.twitter.com/v3qNPcloSV
— ABC News (@ABC) December 2, 2021
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