Brandon Lee’s Former Fiancée Backs Ban on Real Guns on Sets After ‘Avoidable Tragedy’ of ‘Rust’

“I urge those in positions to make change to consider alternatives to real guns on sets,” Eliza Hutton says

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Eliza Hutton, the woman who was set to marry Brandon Lee just weeks after the actor’s on-set death in 1993, has spoken out following the tragic death of Halyna Hutchins on the set of “Rust.” And she’s joining the chorus of those who believe real guns should be permanently banned from movie sets.

Last Thursday, Hutchins was killed on the set of “Rust” when Alec Baldwin fired a prop gun that he believed contained no live ammo. In 1993, Brandon Lee — son of martial arts legend Bruce Lee — was similarly killed by a prop gun on the set of “The Crow.”

“Twenty eight years ago, I was shattered by the shock and grief of losing the love of my life, Brandon Lee, so senselessly. My heart aches again now for Halyna Hutchins’ husband and son, and for all those left in the wake of this avoidable tragedy,” Hutton told People. “I urge those in positions to make change to consider alternatives to real guns on sets.”

According to People, Hutton also posted an old photo of her and Lee, captioning it, “There’s no such thing as a prop gun.”

Indeed, it’s important to understand what a “prop gun” actually is. Many assume it refers to non-functional weapons or toy guns that fire caps to produce smoke. Those are also prop guns, but the term can also apply to real guns that are used as props. You can read more about how a “prop gun” can actually deliver a fatal shot here.

In the days following the “Rust” tragedy, the push for the removal of functional guns in Hollywood has only gained momentum. The idea picked up steam over the weekend, with showrunners from ABC’s “The Rookie” and Amazon Prime Video’s “The Boys” promising to remove actual guns from their sets and create gun sound effects digitally.

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