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Responsibilities of an Armorer on a Movie Set

The primary responsibility of an armorer on a movie set is to ensure the safety of the cast and crew, prioritizing safety above all else.
Armorers handle weapons, check and secure them, maintain a chain of custody, and ensure the quality control of ammunition.
They have the authority to stop filming if safety issues arise and can provide instructions to actors regarding firearms and safety procedures.

Before a scene involving a weapon, the armorer will clear the weapon and show it to at least two representatives on set, including the first assistant director and director of photography.
Dummy rounds are used for safety and are shown to the actor and anyone else who wants to see them.
The armorer waits until the scene is about to start shooting before handing off the weapon to the actor.
The armorer stays on set and collects the weapon back up as soon as the actor is finished with the scene.
The armorer never leaves a live weapon with anyone else and walks away.
Armorers should not leave guns unattended with assistant directors or anyone else.

There is no national certification for armorers, and the amount of training and experience required varies.
A minimum of 40 hours of safety handling training is necessary, with additional on-the-job training for professional armorers.
Armorers should have extensive experience with firearms, including law enforcement, security contracting, and specialized training.

The armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was inexperienced and sometimes pulled away from her armor duties to do props work.
There was a lack of muzzle discipline in several scenes, and it's unclear if the armorer addressed this with the actors.
The production company only had Ms. Reed working as a part-time armorer, which is not ideal for a gun-heavy set.
Cooper's four rules for firearm safety were violated by Alec Baldwin in several scenes.
Production was running behind schedule on the day of the incident, which may have contributed to the rush.

Establish clear directions for firing and ensure that the crew is in a safe position before a scene is shot.
Have a chain of custody and reporting format for negligent discharges, and take steps to address safety issues.
If the armorer is not present, the first assistant director is responsible for safety but not gun handling.
Conduct a safety briefing every day before scenes involving firearms, regardless of time constraints.
If an actor goes off-script and uses a weapon unexpectedly, someone should call the armorer to the scene for a safety briefing and weapon check.