A Tragic Gun-Safety Flub: Halyna Hutchins’ Death

THE ISSUE: Alec Baldwin’s accidental fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of a movie.

The accounts of the tragic death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and the wounding of director Joel Souza leave many questions unanswered (“Warning shots,” Oct. 23).

The basic one is: Why was there live ammunition on a movie set in the first place? Blank ammunition, at least for rifles and handguns, looks nothing like a live round. It should have been impossible for a prop master not to realize the difference.

And why was Baldwin pointing the weapon in Hutchins’ direction in the first place?

Hopefully, New Mexico law-enforcement officials will get to the truth of the matter.

John Kapica

Carmel

Regarding the terrible accidental shooting of Hutchins — my thoughts and prayers go out to her husband and son.

I feel very bad for Baldwin as well, even though he has been so critical of the police in these matters.

My daughter was a member of the NYPD. When any member of the department was involved in something like this, they were distraught and inconsolable.

We all know you never point a gun at a person and fire.

Patricia Nahaczewski

Massapequa

Baldwin took a gun he believed harmless and shot someone with it. The first rule of gun safety is, “Every gun is always loaded.” The second is, “Only point your gun at something you intend to destroy.”

Baldwin violated both those rules, and a life was lost. He’s rich and famous and heavily insured. His lawyers will protect him. Nevertheless, he should be ashamed of himself.

Mike Barrett

Ashburn, Va.

I feel bad for the family and friends of Halyna Hutchins. I also feel bad for Baldwin, but the ultimate responsibility for gun safety is the one in possession of the gun.

This rule is paramount. You always check a weapon and understand its status before doing anything. Chris Plate

Waterloo

Two of the cardinal rules for anyone handling guns is that you never point a weapon at anyone unless you plan to shoot that person, and if anyone hands you a gun, always consider it loaded. No matter what you’re told or who tells you, check it yourself.

The tragic death of Halyna Hutchins on the New Mexico movie set leaves a lot of questions that need to be answered.

Why was live ammunition permitted on the movie set in the first place? How many people had access to that weapon, and who were they? Why didn’t the supposed “weapons expert” examine the chamber of the revolver, in

Alec Baldwin’s presence, before he handed it to him?

The production company’s claim of the highest level of weapons security on set is nothing more than a denial of responsibility. It seems to me that there’s plenty of responsibility to go around.

Dick Mills, Bardonia

Any legally licensed firearms owner knows to treat every firearm as if it is loaded.

I’ve hunted in New York and taken mandatory hunter-safety courses before a license was issued. I now live in Florida — and to get a license, I had to take firearms-safety courses.

My instructor checked a firearm before he handed it to me and said it was unloaded. He then took it back, saying, “Do not take anyone’s word that the firearm is unloaded.” It’s your responsibility to make sure that it is safely unloaded. He said he could be wrong and make a mistake. I never forgot that lesson.

Any actor handling a firearm should have to take the same courses. Ignorance is not an excuse for this tragedy.

Dan Foley

Port St. Lucie, Fla.

With the way technology has advanced in the making of movies, why should any gun on set be pointed at someone?

Of course, it should be checked again and again for safety as a prop, but the way filming, editing, etc. are done, no one should ever be staring down its barrel.

Joe Salvatore

Blue Point