California lawmaker slams ‘ruthless industry’ after ‘Rust’-inspired film set safety bill fails

UPDATE, with MPA comment: A California state senator criticized the entertainment industry today over a bill he co-authored in response to the fatal shooting of Halyna Hutchins last year on American television. Rust The whole thing failed to get out of committee.

“This is a powerful and ruthless industry,” Sen. Dave Cortese, a Silicon Valley Democrat, said in a statement. “First, the industry killed Halyna. Then they rejected the bill that would have kept people like her safe.

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Cortese co-sponsored Senate Bill 381, which sought to protect film and television workers through a regulatory process to establish clear and mandatory guidelines for the use of firearms and ammunition on film sets. The bill, the first of its kind in the United States, also included a limited ban on ammunition on sets, the adoption of safety regulations and the establishment of penalties for violations to ensure compliance.

The bill, which was introduced in Sacramento earlier this year and amended last month (read it here ), failed to clear the California Senate Appropriations Committee today.

“Despite the setbacks, I am committed to real reforms that will protect our workers,” Cortese said.

Hutchins died after being shot in the neck by Alec Baldwin with what was believed to be a “cold gun” Rust located at Bonanza Creek Ranch near Santa Fe. He was practicing a “quick draw” motion during rehearsal and pulled the trigger, killing Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza. Local police and state authorities are investigating the case, which has resulted in multiple prosecutions.

A spokesperson for the Motion Picture Association said: “We remain committed to working with the California legislature, as well as our union and guild partners, to improve gun safety on film sets by supporting on our already robust industry-wide protocols. »

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