The release of Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer convicted in the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of "Rust," has reignited debate over who bears ultimate responsibility for the 2021 tragedy. 

Gutierrez-Reed, who served an 18-month sentence for involuntary manslaughter, returned home to Arizona on parole after her release from a New Mexico prison. While prosecutors pinned blame on her for bringing live ammunition onto the set and neglecting gun safety protocols, the real question lingers: Why isn’t Alec Baldwin, the actor who pulled the trigger, behind bars? 

During the filming of the movie, they did extra care to test people who might have COVID, yet couldn't take five minutes to make sure Alec wasn't fooling around with a gun?

Movie armorer completes prison sentence in fatal 'Rust' set shooting https://t.co/yc3JSrAxuH pic.twitter.com/EtrHAngAHB

— Albuquerque Journal (@ABQJournal) May 24, 2025

Baldwin, the lead actor and co-producer of Rust, was holding the revolver that discharged, killing Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza during a rehearsal outside Santa Fe. His involuntary manslaughter charge was dismissed last year due to allegations of withheld evidence by prosecutors. Yet, as an experienced actor with decades in the industry, Baldwin’s handling of the firearm raises serious questions about his culpability. 

Firearm safety on a film set is non-negotiable, and actors are expected to treat every gun as if it’s loaded—live rounds or not. Baldwin’s failure to adhere to this fundamental rule directly led to Hutchins’ death.

The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office has released evidence related to the deadly shooting on “Rust” movie set in New Mexico last year. Included is this clip of the scene where the film’s cinematographer was killed by a gun in Alec Baldwin’s hands pic.twitter.com/enNq4sJLo7

— J.D. Miles (@jdmiles11) April 25, 2022

The tragic precedent of Brandon Lee’s death during the filming of The Crow in 1993 underscores this point. Lee was killed when a prop gun, mistakenly loaded with a live round, was fired by another actor. The incident shocked the industry, leading to stricter safety protocols and a universal understanding: actors must never point a gun at anyone and pull the trigger without absolute certainty of its safety. 

Baldwin, a veteran of countless film sets, would have been well aware of this history. His decision to aim and fire the weapon, even if he believed it contained blanks, was reckless and indefensible.

Alec Baldwin 'intentionally' fired deadly shot on 'Rust' film set, script supervisor claims in suit https://t.co/7waso87Icb pic.twitter.com/KAQoeVhyZU

— New York Post (@nypost) November 17, 2021

Gutierrez-Reed’s conviction focused on her role in bringing live ammunition to the set and failing to enforce safety standards. She’s paid her debt to society and now faces parole conditions, including mental health assessments and a ban on firearms. But holding her solely accountable feels like a miscarriage of justice when Baldwin, who wielded the gun, walks free. As a co-producer, he also shared responsibility for the set’s safety culture, yet he’s faced no legal consequences for his actions.

The "Rust" tragedy didn’t happen in a vacuum. It exposed a chain of failures, but the person who pulled the trigger cannot be absolved. Baldwin’s experience should have made him the last line of defense, not the catalyst for disaster. 

The dismissal of his charges may have been a legal technicality, but it doesn’t erase the moral weight of his actions. If the industry learned anything from Brandon Lee’s death, it’s that accountability must extend to those who hold the gun. Baldwin should be in jail, not Gutierrez-Reed alone, for failing to uphold the most basic tenet of firearm safety on a film set.