After Alec Baldwin’s Fatal Shot, Calls To Banning Guns From Shooting Rise
Three days after Alec Baldwin’s shooting fatally hit a cinematographer on the set of a western in the United States, calls grew on Sunday in Hollywood to ban the use of firearms on sets.
Hit in the chest Thursday after Alec Baldwin actuated a weapon used as an accessory in the film Rust, according to a preliminary investigation report consulted by AFP, Halyna Hutchins was transported by helicopter to a hospital in New Mexico , where his death was pronounced.
A petition on change.org, calling for a ban on live firearms on set and better working conditions for crews, garnered more than 15,000 signatures as of Sunday.
"There is no excuse for something like this to happen in the 21st century," states the text of the petition launched by Bandar Albuliwi, a screenwriter and director.
"There is an urgent need to address the problem of alarming (labor law) abuses and security breaches taking place on film sets, including unnecessary high-risk conditions, such as the use of weapons." real fire, ”also pleaded Saturday in a statement Dave Cortese, elected Democrat in the Senate of California.
"I intend to put to a vote a bill that would ban live ammunition on filming in California to prevent this kind of senseless violence," the elected official also said.
The successful detective series The Rookie, which takes place in Los Angeles, decided in the aftermath of the drama to ban all real weapons on its set, a measure effective immediately, according to the movie magazine The Hollywood Reporter.
“As of today, it is recorded on The Rookie that any shooting of a firearm on the set will be done with soft air weapons (dummy weapons, Editor's note) with artificial flames coming out of the barrel added in post -production ”, announced in a note to his teams the producer of the series Alexi Hawley, quoted by The Hollywood Reporter.
"Cold" weapon
The investigation into the death of Halyna Hutchins continued on Sunday, with the role of film gunsmith Hannah Gutierrez Reed, 24, coming under close scrutiny by investigators. She was the one who had prepared the gun with which the actor fired the fatal shot. She had placed it on a cart with two other weapons.
Assistant director Dave Halls, described as a seasoned professional, then handed this gun to Mr. Baldwin during a rehearsal for a scene in the film, informing him that it was "cold", that is. - say unloaded a real bullet in cinematic jargon.
Mr. Halls was "unaware the gun was loaded with live ammunition," said an agent from the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office.
After the shooting, Ms Gutierrez Reed was given the weapon and collected the used cartridge, before handing them over to police on their arrival, the report said.
Dave Halls suffered from a negative reputation for allowing unsafe practices to take place on set, NBC News reported on Sunday.
"It didn't create a safe working environment," Maggie Goll, a props designer who worked with Dave Halls, told the news channel, among other things about blocking emergency exits or not having security meetings.
No prosecution has yet been announced in this case, but the accidental thesis seemed privileged. Alec Baldwin remained at large after being questioned.
A search warrant was issued by a judge on Friday, authorizing law enforcement to seize equipment related to the shooting as well as weapons and ammunition used as props, and clothing worn by the actor and the rest of the team during the drama.
Evidence of the emotion aroused, a fundraiser launched by the cinematographer's union and intended for the family of Halyna Hutchins exceeded $ 180,000 on Sunday morning, far from the initial target of $ 10,000.
A vigil in homage to Halyna Hutchins took place Sunday evening in Burbank, a city near Los Angeles nicknamed the “media capital of the world” because of the presence of many film and television studios. Sadness and anger dominated the atmosphere, as participants questioned how such a tragedy was possible.
"I had the pleasure of working with Halyna," actress Sharol Leal said. “She was a wonderful woman and… we are so shocked,” she added.
