After ‘Rust’ shooting, NY bill seeks to ban live ammo on film sets
This aerial photo shows the Bonanza Creek Ranch in Santa Fe, N.M., where cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was fatally shot on the set of "Rust." Jae C. Hong / AP
A state lawmaker wants New York to ban live ammunition on TV and film sets in response to the death earlier this month of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who was killed by a gun fired by actor Alec Baldwin on a movie set in New Mexico.
Possessing or using live ammunition on a film set in New York would be designated a felony offense under a bill filed Wednesday by Sen. Kevin Thomas, a Democrat who represents parts of Nassau County. If the bill becomes law, all crew members would be required to undergo police-supervised training when prop guns firing blanks are used on a set.
Thomas called the bill a commonsense measure in response to the fatal shooting, which occurred Oct. 21 on the set of Rust, an independent movie.
“This is a preventative measure,” Thomas said. “I don’t want what happened on the Rust set to happen here in New York, given that we are involved in a lot of production.”