About guns.......

[barbara]

Recently, Alec Baldwin accidently shot someone on the movie set and it killed her. I'm sure you have all heard.

Now he has had an interview where he states he never pulled the trigger on the gun.

As you know, my knowledge about guns is not great, but, even as uninformed as I am I can't believe a gun can shoot without pulling the trigger.

What am I missing here? Is there something about guns shooting without pulling the trigger that I don't understand or is Alec Baldwin just saying anything to avoid responsibility?

[Oerets]

In truth the revolver in question in proper working condition needs the trigger pulled back to fire. Holding the trigger back then cocking the hammer back and releasing will fire the weapon. Think of the ""fanning"" of a six shooter seen in western movie gun fights.

The possibility of a defective weapon is also a reason. The catch on the hammer from safe, load cock to full being defective or a worn action allowing for the hammer to fall unexpectedly. A very very light pull to no locking of the hammer.

Also noted the firing pin sits exposed with the hammer down. If a live round is under the hammer it can fire the round!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LigAFOlhC8

Go to around 13 minutes....

[barbara]

Thanks, Oerets, that information was very helpful.

[BigElCat]

The gun in question was a single-action, six-shot revolver (.45 Long Colt).

The only way it could have fired would have been some kind of action on Alec Baldwin's part.

He could have held the trigger all the way back after pulling it once, and then worked the hammer to make it fire. Or he could have dropped the gun accidently, which can cause it to discharge.

[Oerets]

The hammer can release on it own if defective......
Unlatch...

Firing pin will hit the primer on any drop, no safety on the old style.

Why a unloaded empty cylinder was always used when carried.


Know a shooter who dropped one, hammer hit ground and sent a round thru his knee............................

[BigElCat]

Originally Posted by Oerets

The hammer can release on it own if defective......
Unlatch...

Everything you said was true.

I want to add, someone would have to pull the hammer back for it to release, a human action.

Barring supernatural intervention, of course, which doesn't make for a good legal defense these days.

[Oerets]

Originally Posted by BigElCat

Everything you said was true.

I want to add, someone would have to pull the hammer back for it to release, a human action.

Barring supernatural intervention, of course, which doesn't make for a good legal defense these days.

My take.....

Lawyer speaking now for Alex right now.....doubt....!


I'm thinking he should be silent.

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by Oerets

The hammer can release on it own if defective......
Unlatch...

Firing pin will hit the primer on any drop, no safety on the old style.

Why a unloaded empty cylinder was always used when carried.


Know a shooter who dropped one, hammer hit ground and sent a round thru his knee............................

Food for thought:

The most popular bolt-action rifle of all time in the US, the Remington 700 (and the smaller Model 7), had a recall of ~7 million rifles manufactured over 8 years due to a defective trigger that would allow the gun to discharge without pulling the trigger.

While single-action revolvers and bolt action rifles have differing actions, both are held in a cocked position prior to discharge and both can have manufacturing defects. That said, I have no opinion on what actually happened in the Alec Baldwin case.

[Oerets]

Originally Posted by finnbow

Food for thought:

The most popular bolt-action rifle of all time in the US, the Remington 700 (and the smaller Model 7), had a recall of ~7 million rifles manufactured over 8 years due to a defective trigger that would allow the gun to discharge without pulling the trigger.

While single-action revolvers and bolt action rifles have differing actions, both are held in a cocked position prior to discharge and both can have manufacturing defects. That said, I have no opinion on what actually happened in the Alec Baldwin case.

Key to gun safety is knowing and acting as if the weapon is loaded and can fire at any time.

A actor holding a weapon must be responsible and behave accordingly. If not, IIRC manslaughter is used when an accidental cause of another's death is determined.

Also worked with a guy who's son blew off a toe with a shotgun. was resting the end of the barrel on the top of his foot. Butt up on chest and started tapping his foot......forgetting a live round was in the chamber.....just enough to send the primer to pin.

[barbara]

I can't believe he did that interview on tv! It doesn't take a legal expert to know that was the dumb thing to do. His words will come back to haunt him, likely in a court room.