Although Alec Baldwin had his case related to the “Rust” shooting dismissed, filmmaker Quentin Tarantino believes Baldwin is not completely free from responsibility.

The acclaimed director, aged 61, shared his perspective during an episode of Bill Maher’s “Club Random” podcast, suggesting that actors like Baldwin bear some accountability for ensuring safe gun practices on film sets.

During this conversation, Maher critiqued the decision to bring criminal charges against Baldwin, asserting that it is unreasonable to place the blame for cinematographer Halyna Hutchins’ death on him, as he did not intentionally shoot her. Baldwin faced involuntary manslaughter charges after a firearm he was handling discharged on the set of “Rust” in 2021, tragically killing Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza.

However, Tarantino, whose films frequently depict gun violence, disagreed with Maher’s standpoint, stating, “The armorer — the person responsible for the gun — holds 90% of the responsibility for any incidents involving that weapon. But the actor is still 10% at fault. It’s a gun. You also share some degree of responsibility.”

YSL News has contacted Baldwin’s representatives for their response.

The Oscar-winning director emphasized that actors must take precautions to guarantee safe gun handling.

“They demonstrate that the barrel is clear, ensuring that nothing is lodged inside,” he explained. “(They) display the barrel to you. Then they provide you with some version of, ‘Here are the blanks. These are the blanks, and here’s the gun. Boom. Now you’re set to go.'”

Baldwin rejects the notion of being responsible for Hutchins’ death, maintaining he did not pull the trigger and was informed the gun did not contain live rounds. In July, his involuntary manslaughter charge was unexpectedly dropped due to claims that prosecutors hid evidence. The “30 Rock” actor later expressed gratitude to his supporters for their “kindness.”

Meanwhile, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who served as the armorer on “Rust,” was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and received an 18-month prison sentence.

Tarantino, who characterized the “Rust” incident as a blunder that “undermines the entire industry,” also countered Maher’s suggestion that firearms should be unloaded on set and enhanced with visual effects during editing.

“The excitement of firing blanks and witnessing the genuine orange flame is preferable to adding visual effects,” argued the “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” director, asserting, “Considering the multitude of gunfire scenes in films, the fact that we have only two instances of actual injuries from gun-related accidents is quite a remarkable achievement.”

Tarantino referenced the tragic incident where actor Brandon Lee was accidentally shot on the set of “The Crow” in 1993. Director Rupert Sanders recently informed YSL News that he mandated the absence of live firearms on his set for the recently released “The Crow” remake.

“We operate in a highly hazardous environment,” Sanders noted. “There’s always the potential for accidents, whether it’s due to a speeding car with a crane, a horse running fast, or filming on the USS Roosevelt. Safety is my top priority because the risk is just not worth it.”

Contributions from: Erin Jensen, KiMi Robinson, YSL News: Andrew Hay, Reuters