Right-wing Anti-Hollywood Hysterics
How many people have died from firearms on film sets in the past sixty years? Reports from people in the industry suggest a culture of safety.
Meanwhile, since 1968, more Americans have died from firearms than all wars combined. It's ridiculous that this one incident spurs so much talk (and possibly legislation) while the US generally accepts needless death en masse -- with some right-wing opportunists even self-righteously condemning "liberal Hollywood" for failing to "respect" firearms. I'm hesitant to call this a "freak" accident given reports of the culture of the Rust set, but it certainly sounds like a freak production.
I wouldn't be surprised if more industry people die as a result of working long hours. Legendary DP Haskell Wexler made a documentary Who Needs Sleep after a cameraman on the film Pleasantville died driving home after a 19 hour shift, but Hollywood's happy to ignore basic work/life balance if they can go after guns.