SAG-AFTRA Defends Alec Baldwin, Plus a Legal Expert Is Explaining the Charges Against Him
SAG-AFTRA is speaking out against the charges filed against Alec Baldwin.
The 64-year-old actor is facing two counts of involuntary manslaughter charges following the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of his movie Rust.
Halyna was shot and killed on the set of Rust in October of 2021 when Alec pulled the trigger of a prop gun. Shortly after the shooting, Alec made a statement about her death. The transcript of what happened in the moments after the shooting were also revealed a short time later.
SAG-AFTRA, the union that represents actors, is defending Alec against the charges.
Head inside to read the statement from SAG-AFTRA…
“The death of Halyna Hutchins is a tragedy, and all the more so because of its preventable nature. It is not a failure of duty or a criminal act on the part of any performer. The prosecutor’s contention that an actor has a duty to ensure the functional and mechanical operation of a firearm on a production set is wrong and uninformed,” the union said in a statement (via Deadline). “An actor’s job is not to be a firearms or weapons expert. Firearms are provided for their use under the guidance of multiple expert professionals directly responsible for the safe and accurate operation of that firearm. In addition, the employer is always responsible for providing a safe work environment at all times, including hiring and supervising the work of professionals trained in weapons.”
The statement continued, “The Industry Standards for safety with firearms and use of blank ammunition are clearly laid out in Safety Bulletin 1, provided by the Joint Industry-Wide Labor Management Safety Commission. The guidelines require an experienced, qualified armorer to be put in charge of all handling, use, and safekeeping of firearms on set. These duties include ‘inspecting the firearm and barrel before and after every firing sequence,’ and ‘checking all firearms before each use.’”
“The guidelines do not make it the performer’s responsibility to check any firearm. Performers train to perform, and they are not required or expected to be experts on guns or experienced in their use. The industry assigns that responsibility to qualified professionals who oversee their use and handling in every aspect. Anyone issued a firearm on set must be given training and guidance in its safe handlingg and use, but all activity with firearms on a set must be under the careful supervision and control of the professional armorer and the employer,” the statement concluded.
A legal expert explained the charges in a statement to People.
“I don’t think this case would’ve been prosecuted if the defendant wasn’t named Alec Baldwin,” former federal prosectuor Neama Rahmani said. “I would not have prosecuted it. They’re trying to throw the book at Baldwin and make an example out of him.”
He added that he doesn’t agree with the charges “unless they have evidence that hasn’t yet been publicly reported.”
For Alec to be found guilty of the charges, the state will have to prove that he acted with negligence and that he acted recklessly with the gun.
Read what Alec‘s lawyer just said in a statement.