[Jeff Higgins]

She was twice removed from possession of the firearm on which Alex Baldwin pulled the trigger while he had it aimed at a living human being. She did not hand it to the Assistant Director, the guy who handed it to Alex Baldwin. She did not tell that Assistant Director that it was a "cold gun". Nor did she hand it to Alex Baldwin. She was not even on the set when Alex Baldwin fired the fatal shot.

An old buddy of mine who practices law made me aware of a legal doctrine that is often utilized in vehicular accident situations. It's known as "last chance to avoid". The hypothetical was "what if I'm driving some old schittbox (or something on which I'm hopelessly underwater on the loan) and 'opportunity' presents itself?" in the form of some other driver who cut me off, ran a red light, or whatever. Gave me the "opportunity" to total the car while he was clearly "at fault". Well, guess what? If you actually had an opportunity to avoid the collision but chose not to, things get very, very murky...

Both the Assistant Director and Alex Baldwin had that "last chance to avoid". If either had followed centuries old gun safety protocol and had checked the gun themselves, no one would have died. Two missed opportunities. One dead cinematographer. Twice removed from the armorer.

At my own gun club (as in all others) we have long established rules for the "transfer" of firearms. All actions are open, chambers empty, chamber flags in place, magazines removed, cylinders swung open (on double action revolvers), loading gates open and cylinders free to rotate and inspect (on single action revolvers), etc. Anyone caught violating these simple rules is sent home and made to stand tall in front of our Range Committee to explain their transgressions before they are allowed to return to the range.

We've all heard the Hollywood argument that actors simply cannot be expected to understand guns and their operation. Bullschitt. I have hunted in places where the camp help, and the guys who tag along on the hunt - skinners, trackers, etc. - run around naked when we are not with them, cannot read nor write in any language, yet are expected to safely carry and handle loaded rifles (so they can hand them to you in a hurry when the situation demands) when we are in the field. More so, they are expected to be able to quickly reload the one you just handed over your shoulder to them, in trade for the one they just loaded for you.

So, no - the supposition that no one on set is responsible for the condition of the firearm in question other than the armorer is no more than Hollywood "A List" entitled actor nonsense. Anyone with a gun in their hand is responsible for that gun. The only one responsible for that gun.