Unbelievable that people can be this ignorant, but there you are.Using a real gun thought to be unloaded, the play’s director and actor Bill Bordy, 75, pulled the trigger on a .32-caliber revolver as Kellerman kneeled on the stage.
To their surprise, the gun went off, sending a bullet ricocheting off Kellerman’s skull, and taking off a part of his ear.
...Bradenton Police Chief Michael Radzilowski said he may ask the city council if it wants his department to draft an ordinance banning the use of real firearms in theatrical productions in the city. [More]
So naturally, the reaction of local government and the "Only Ones" is to make sure they remain that way.
[Via Ed M]
I hate stories like this because of the stupidity involved. This is part of what I do. Firing pins removed, magazine empty, chamber empty, if possibly dummy barrel put in place, off stage soundfx. AIRSOFT even. Better yet, education.
ReplyDeleteA law isn't the answer. It's darwinism and proof of the lack of education in action.
EVERYBODY knows how to FIRE a gun because they see that every night on TV. People don't know how to unload and make safe because the Hollywood/New York axis doesn't show that, like they don't show reloading. The rare times they DO, I sit up like it's a major play in the Super Bowl. "Did you SEE that?"
ReplyDeleteA woman took a cocked revolver to a police station -- before that would get you executed -- because she didn't know how to safely lower the hammer. A motivational speaker wounded someone during a skit about proper grooming. "Look at his sloppy appearance. Why, he ought to be SHOT!"
A Civil War reenactor -- a "walk-on" after the standard safety checks by a group who knew each other -- went into a filming of a documentery with his revolver loaded with powder, patch -- and ball. He had been target shooting with the vintage pistol that weekend.
NATIONAL news, each incident.
Remenber "The Crow." Brandon Lee died because someone didn';t know the rule "If the gun goes POP, you STOP." It was a real .44 Magnum revolver, and someone had been target shooting with it and had a low-powered load -- maybe primer but no powder -- the last shot fired, apparently. Then they neither checked nor cleaned it. The bullet was lodged in the barrel, and during filming, blank cartridges pushed it out at a high enough velocity to pierce Lee's chest. Tragic, senseless.
ReplyDeleteExtras get solid-rubber replicas.
I saw an old western movie where a guy walked into the sheriff's office and proclaimed he had a bone to pick with him. He had two six-shooters on his sides. Imagine trying that today.
ReplyDeleteCan we rename the "wild wild west" the "free free west"? Or is it too late.