From Alec Baldwin's on-set accident: Why are prop guns dangerous?

According to Alec Baldwin's spokesperson, the incident occurred on set due to the accidental firing of a prop gun without a bullet, with Alec being the one who fired it. Cinematographer and director of photography, 42-year-old Halyna Hutchins, was airlifted to the hospital and received by medical personnel at the University of New Mexico Hospital, but later succumbed to her injuries. Director Joel Souza was also taken to the hospital; his condition is currently unknown.

A local newspaper reported that after the accident, they saw Alec Baldwin sitting and crying outside the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office. Police are investigating the incident, and it is not yet known exactly what happened.

This accident immediately shocked the entire film industry. The use of guns on film sets should have followed strict safety standards. So why did this "accidental shooting" happen? It sounds unbelievable, but both prop guns and blank ammunition are actually very dangerous.

What are prop guns?

Prop guns come in many types; some are purely for decoration, while others can fire, and some are even real weapons capable of firing projectiles.

Blank bullets are used in the film industry to mimic real bullets, and they do look very realistic, because they are essentially modified regular bullets. A bullet loaded into a gun consists of a casing containing gunpowder; when the trigger is pulled, it creates a force that propels the bullet out of the barrel. Blank bullets still have a casing and gunpowder, but no bullet.

Using prop guns filled with blank ammunition can create a realistic effect: when fired, you hear a loud bang, feel the recoil, and see the sparks, because gunpowder is still being burned. Many people believe that firing blank ammunition cannot injure anyone, but this is not true. The gun still propels hot gas, and therefore can still kill at close range.

Accidents, though rare, can still happen.

A similar accident involving a prop gun has also occurred on film sets. On March 31, 1993, Bruce Lee's only son, Brandon Lee, was filming the final scenes of a movie when Bruce Lee was injured.Crow, passed away after being shot by his co-star Michael Massee. At the time, Michael had no idea there was a bullet in the gun, and a real bullet at that.

Another incident occurred in 1984, when American actor Jon-Erik Hexum was playing around with a prop gun while waiting to film on set.Cover UpUnlike Brandon Lee, he wasn't shot by a bullet, but the recoil from the gunshot shattered the actor's skull. He died a few days later at Beverly Hills Medical Center.

In Vietnam, there have also been major accidents involving unexploded ordnance. In February 2013, a horrific explosion occurred in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, claiming the lives of 11 people and destroying three adjacent houses with a total area of ​​nearly 280 square meters.²During the scene investigation, authorities discovered and seized numerous boxes of blank ammunition, circular paper packets suspected of containing explosives, and many fake guns bearing Chinese labels. These were props kept by Mr. Le Minh Phuong, a specialist in creating fire and smoke effects, for use during filming. Mr. Phuong and his family also perished in the explosion.

Given these accidents, shouldn't we reconsider the safe use of prop guns? Even blank rounds without projectiles still pose a significant danger. Not to mention, many films have prop teams adding extra gunpowder to create more dramatic visual effects.

On set, there are trainers responsible for instructing the actors on the necessary elements of using props, and there are strict regulations regarding the use of firearms, as follows:

- Consider every gun in your hand as loaded.

Never point a gun at anything you don't intend to destroy.

- Only place your finger on the trigger once you have aimed accurately and decided to fire.

- Clearly define the objective, and the space behind that objective.

Yet tragic accidents still happen. Mike Tristano, a weapons officer who previously worked with Alec Baldwin, said, "When filming, nobody points a gun at someone, even if it's a dummy gun. I don't understand how this could happen, and how it could cause such horrific casualties."

Many people in the film industry also wonder why, when nowadays all gun and bullet effects can be added very easily using technology, blank bullets are still used.

Actor and director Craig Zobel posted on his personal Twitter account, "There's no reason to load blank rounds or any kind of ammunition into prop guns on set anymore. They should be banned completely."

Television producer David Slack also spoke out, "Prop guns are still guns. The blank cartridges contain real gunpowder. They can kill or injure people. If your film crew uses prop guns without proper safety procedures and regulations, abandon the show. No show or scene is worth risking lives on."

An - Photo: Internet