‘Live’ Guns Banned From ABC Set Following Alec Baldwin Situation

ABC’s "The Rookie" announced a ban on “live” guns on set going forward following the deadly shooting on the set of Alec Baldwin’s "Rust" on Thursday.

Alexi Hawley, the showrunner on the cop drama starring Nathan Fillion as a Los Angeles Police Department newcomer, announced the new policy in a memo to staff Friday, Deadline reports.

“As of today, it is now policy on The Rookie that all gunfire on set will be Air Soft guns with CG muzzle flashes added in post,” Hawley wrote. “There will be no more ‘live’ weapons on the show. The safety of our cast and crew is too important. Any risk is too much risk.”

Director of Photography Halyna Hutchins was killed and director Joel Souza injured when a prop gun held by Baldwin was discharged in Thursday's accidental shooting.

FOX News reports Baldwin was reportedly told by assistant director Dave Halls that the gun he was working with when Hutchins was shot was a "cold gun," a term used when a firearm being worked with on a set is not loaded with any live ammunition.

The article states that the gun was in fact loaded when Baldwin pulled the trigger while working with Souza and Hutchins to set up a shot — when the gun went off, in one of the worst on-set tragedies in recent memory.

Baldwin spoke out for the first time Friday following the shooting, saying “There are no words to convey my shock and sadness” over the tragedy.

Deadline reports that Baldwin is cooperating in the investigation by Santa Fe officials and so far no charges have been filed.

New information as of Monday states that the gun that killed the “Rust” cinematographer was used by crew members that morning for live ammunition target practice, an individual with knowledge of the set told TheWrap. 

You can read Hawley’s memo regarding "The Rookie" in full, published by Deadline, below:

The tragic events in New Mexico yesterday have shaken us all, and our hearts go out to the friends and family of Halyna Hutchins and Joel Souza.

As of today, it is now policy on The Rookie that all gunfire on set will be Air Soft guns with CG muzzle flashes added in post. There will be no more “live” weapons on the show. The safety our cast and crew is too important. Any risk is too much risk.

As always, if you ever feel unsafe or witness anything that concerns you, please don’t hesitate to report it.

My door is always open.

Alexi Hawley

The Los Angeles Times reports it so far appears to be the first show to implement such a policy that’s airing on Disney-owned ABC network.

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