Category: News

This category covers the latest updates in firearm laws, self-defense legislation, concealed carry regulations, industry developments, court decisions, and major events impacting gun owners and personal protection rights. Stay informed with timely and relevant news affecting the firearms and self-defense community.

Legal & Law, News

The Fallout of the Rust Shooting: What Hannah Gutierrez-Reed’s Release Means for the Firearms Industry and Film Armorers

Mark Schneider
Hannah Gutierrez-Reed Mug Shot

The release of armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed from jail on May 23, 2025, has reopened a conversation the film industry still hasn’t fully addressed: firearm safety on set—and the life-or-death consequences when it’s ignored. While the public spotlight has dimmed, professionals in the firearms training and entertainment industry know that the impact of the Rust shooting will be felt for years to come.

This tragedy wasn’t just about a gun—it was about negligence at every level. And for weapons masters and armorers, it has become a defining moment.

🎯 The Industry Is on Notice

The incident exposed systemic issues: underqualified personnel, lack of clear protocols, and a rushed production culture. According to a 2023 IATSE survey, nearly 40% of film crew members reported unsafe handling of firearms on set. This isn’t rare—it’s alarmingly common.

The message is clear: cutting corners on firearms safety is no longer acceptable.

🛡 Why Professional Armorers Matter

Hiring a real weapons master is more than a checkbox—it’s a responsibility. Here’s what a qualified armorer does:

  • Implements rigorous safety protocols before every scene.
  • Inspects all firearms and ensures no live rounds are present—ever.
  • Controls ammunition and verifies only blanks or dummy rounds are used.
  • Trains actors to handle firearms correctly and safely.
  • Runs rehearsals to identify risks before the cameras roll.

A professional like myself brings experience from the real world—not just film sets, but firearms instruction, defensive tactics, and law enforcement-style training. I’ve trained thousands of CCW holders, security guards, and civilians. That depth matters when your production is relying on realism and safety.

❓ Mini FAQ: Firearm Safety on Set

Q: Can real guns still be used in film and TV?
A: Yes—but only under the supervision of a trained armorer who understands safety and law.

Q: Isn’t the armorer solely responsible?
A: No. While the armorer manages physical safety, the actor is responsible for how they handle the firearm. Producers are liable for who they hire.

Q: Why not use rubber guns or CGI instead?
A: CGI and props work in some scenes—but not all. Action scenes, close-up work, and realistic recoil usually require real firearms. Audiences notice the difference.

📅 Rust Shooting: A Timeline of Negligence

  • October 21, 2021: Alec Baldwin fatally shoots cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on set with a live round from a supposed prop gun.
  • January 31, 2023: Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed are both charged with involuntary manslaughter.
  • March 6, 2024: Gutierrez-Reed is convicted of involuntary manslaughter.
  • April 15, 2024: She is sentenced to 18 months in prison.
  • July 9, 2024: Baldwin’s trial begins.
  • July 12, 2024: Charges against Baldwin are dismissed with prejudice due to alleged prosecutorial misconduct.
  • May 23, 2025: Gutierrez-Reed is released from jail.

But legal dismissal is not the same as innocence.

🎭 Alec Baldwin Is Still Responsible

Alec Baldwin may have avoided a conviction, but the facts are unchanged:

  • He was holding the gun.
  • He pulled the trigger.
  • He failed to check if it was loaded.
  • He was a producer, responsible for hiring and safety oversight.

In any professional firearms course, we teach the foundational rule: Treat every firearm as if it’s loaded. Baldwin violated that rule. And Halyna Hutchins paid the price.

🧑‍🎓 Why Productions Should Hire Me

As a weapons master and certified firearms instructor, I bring:

  • A full rental inventory of handguns, rifles, tactical gear, and armor
  • Actor training in safe handling and realistic movement
  • Set safety inspections and risk mitigation
  • Real-world firearms experience you won’t find in someone who only knows props

Whether you’re filming a shootout, SWAT raid, or simple concealed carry scene—you need a professional on set.

🎬 Ready for a Safer, More Realistic Production?

Hire a Firearms Expert for Your Next Film or TV Project
From firearms rentals to actor training and on-set safety, I provide full-service weapons consulting backed by real-world experience.

👉 Explore Firearms Rentals & On-Set Services

🧠 Want Authentic Training for Your Actors?

Realistic performance starts with professional coaching. I’ll teach your cast to look, move, and think like trained professionals—while keeping everyone safe.

👉 Actor Firearms Coaching & Safety Training

🛡 Don’t Let Liability Catch You Off Guard

The legal risks of mishandling firearms on set are real. We help protect your production with safety-first protocols and rental agreements that meet industry standards.

👉 Compare Self-Defense Insurance Plans

Legal & Law, News

Colorado Teen Shot Over Alleged Trespassing — Self-Defense or Criminal Act?

Mark Schneider

A recent shooting in Conifer, Colorado has ignited controversy over the use of force, property rights, and firearms responsibility. Brent John Metz, a town council member in Mountain View, reportedly shot a 17-year-old boy in the face while the teen sat in a vehicle parked near private property. The victim and his friend were reportedly writing a note to request permission to take homecoming photos by a nearby lake.

Metz has pleaded not guilty to several charges, including second-degree assault, felony menacing, and illegal discharge of a firearm. His defense claims the shooting was accidental — that his Sig Sauer P320 fired on its own without the trigger being pulled.

As both a firearms instructor and a Sig P320 owner, I have serious concerns about this case — not just about the act itself, but also about the misuse of legal self-defense claims.

Brent Metz is claiming the shooting was accidental, but if the defense later pivots toward a self-defense or defense-of-property argument, they’ll have to overcome serious legal obstacles under Colorado law.

C.R.S. § 18-1-704 – Use of Deadly Force in Self-Defense

Under Colorado Revised Statutes § 18-1-704, the use of deadly force is only justified when a person reasonably believes it is immediately necessary to protect themselves or another from the imminent use of unlawful force, specifically force that could cause serious bodily injury or death.

What Does “Reasonable Belief” Actually Mean?

In Colorado, the justification for using force — especially deadly force — hinges not just on what the defender felt, but whether that belief would make sense to a reasonable person in the same situation. This is known as the reasonable belief standard. It doesn’t matter if the person using force was nervous, startled, or simply “felt threatened.” What matters is whether an objective observer, knowing the same facts, would also believe that serious bodily injury or death was imminent. In this case, where the teens were unarmed, seated in a vehicle, and not acting aggressively, it’s hard to imagine how a reasonable person would perceive that as a deadly threat.

Evaluating Imminence Using AOJ

Imminence is evaluated using the AOJ standard:

  • Ability – Did the threat have the means to cause serious harm?
  • Opportunity – Were they in a position to carry it out?
  • Jeopardy – Did their actions clearly show intent to inflict serious bodily injury or death?

In this case, the teens were seated, unarmed, and not acting aggressively. There was no apparent weapon, no hostile movement, and no verbal threats — meaning none of the AOJ elements were met.

C.R.S. § 18-1-705 – Use of Force in Defense of Premises

Metz was not the property owner, but even if he had been, § 18-1-705 only allows physical force — not deadly force — to stop an unlawful entry. Deadly force can only be used if someone is committing or attempting to commit a violent felony inside the premises. Simply being on private property does not qualify.

C.R.S. § 18-1-706 – Use of Force in Defense of Property

This statute allows reasonable physical force to prevent theft, trespass, or vandalism — but it does not authorize deadly force. You cannot shoot someone just to protect land, a vehicle, or personal items. Colorado law is very clear: Deadly force is reserved for imminent threats to human life — not property.

Additional Charges: Menacing and Illegal Discharge

Brent Metz has been charged with the following felonies:

  • Felony Menacing: For knowingly placing someone in fear of imminent serious bodily injury with a deadly weapon. The fact that the teens were shot at through a windshield while sitting in a car strengthens this charge.
  • Illegal Discharge of a Firearm (§ 18-12-107.5): Metz fired into an occupied vehicle, which is a felony in Colorado — regardless of his intent.

These charges indicate that prosecutors do not believe this was a lawful use of force.

A Personal Note on the Sig Sauer P320 Defense

As someone who currently owns and uses two Sig Sauer P320s, I feel compelled to speak up.

I’ve had one of my P320s through a two-day intensive course at Sig Sauer Academy, where I fired over 750 rounds with zero issues. I’ve trained regularly with both pistols and carried them confidently. I also know multiple armed security guards, including my Captain, who have used the P320C in harsh, real-world conditions — including physical altercations. Still, none have ever reported an unintentional discharge.

The defense’s claim that the P320 fired without trigger input is not something I find believable — at least not without confirmation from a qualified gunsmith. I’ve worked with Rob at Bowers Tactical for over 14 years, and I’d trust someone like him to evaluate this firearm properly. Unless someone of that caliber inspects this pistol and finds a mechanical defect, I think this argument is a Hail Mary — not a credible defense.

Whether you’re a civilian, CCW holder, or armed security professional, this case is a stark reminder of how quickly a bad decision — or a false assumption — can turn into a felony charge. Owning a firearm is not enough. You must understand the law, train regularly, and have a legal safety net in place.

✅ Take a Concealed Carry Class
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✅ Know the Law Inside and Out
Explore our in-depth guide to Colorado’s use-of-force and self-defense statutes.
👉 https://concealedcarryclassdenver.com/colorado-self-defense-laws/

✅ Train with Purpose Using Our Shooting Drills
Download printable targets and time-based training exercises to sharpen your defensive shooting.
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Stay Ready. Stay Informed.

You can’t afford to get this wrong. Get trained, get covered, and get educated — before you’re the next headline.

Legal & Law, News

You Have the Right to Remain Silent—But You Have to Say It: Lessons from Salinas v. Texas

Mark Schneider

Most Americans are familiar with the phrase: “You have the right to remain silent.” But what happens if you don’t say anything—literally? Can your silence be used against you?

In the 2013 U.S. Supreme Court case Salinas v. Texas, the Court ruled that simply remaining silent is not enough. Unless you explicitly invoke your Fifth Amendment right, your silence can be used as evidence of guilt in court.

This case is a warning to everyone: if the police are questioning you about a crime, you must clearly state that you are invoking your right to remain silent. Otherwise, your silence may do more harm than good.

The Case: Salinas v. Texas, 133 S.Ct. 2174 (2013)

Genovevo Salinas voluntarily went to the police station to “cooperate” with an investigation into a double homicide. He was not under arrest, and officers did not read him his Miranda rights because it was a voluntary, non-custodial interview.

Salinas answered several questions—until detectives asked whether the shotgun shells found at the crime scene would match his shotgun. At that point, he went silent and appeared visibly nervous.

At trial, the prosecution argued that Salinas’s silence implied guilt. He objected, claiming protection under the Fifth Amendment, which guards against self-incrimination. But the U.S. Supreme Court disagreed.

The Ruling: Silence Isn’t Enough

In a 5–4 decision, the Court held that Salinas’s silence could be used against him because he did not expressly invoke the Fifth Amendment. Writing for the plurality, Justice Alito stated:

“A witness’s constitutional right to refuse to answer questions depends on his ability to assert the privilege.”

This means that unless you say something like:

“I am invoking my Fifth Amendment right. I wish to remain silent and speak to an attorney.”

…your silence may be interpreted as incriminating. You must be clear and unambiguous when invoking your rights.

What You Must Do If Questioned by Police

Whether you’re guilty, innocent, or somewhere in between—if police are questioning you about a crime, here’s what you need to do:

1. Never go to the police station voluntarily

If the police invite you to “come in and talk,” don’t. It’s a tactic to get you talking without full constitutional protection.

2. Ask: “Am I under arrest? Am I free to go?”

These are the only two questions you should ask, and you should keep repeating them until you get a clear answer. Say nothing else. Do not answer questions. Do not try to explain. Just calmly and respectfully say:

“Am I under arrest?”
“Am I free to go?”
(Repeat.)

If they say you’re not under arrest — break contact immediately and leave.
If you are under arrest — move to Step 3.

3. Invoke your rights clearly and completely

Say:

“I invoke my right to remain silent and I want an attorney.”

Then say nothing else.

Why This Matters

The protections of the Fifth Amendment are not automatic. If you remain silent without invoking your rights, that silence can be used against you—just like it was in Salinas.

Police are trained to keep you talking. Even innocent people make mistakes under stress. You could forget a detail, contradict yourself, or appear unsure—and that alone can be twisted in court.

The moment you’re questioned about a crime, your best defense is silence—but only after you invoke your rights clearly and verbally.

Final Thoughts

Salinas v. Texas changed how the Fifth Amendment works in practice. It made clear that you don’t just have the right to remain silent—you have to say you’re using it.

If you’re ever questioned about a crime:

  • Don’t go to the station voluntarily.
  • Ask only: “Am I under arrest? Am I free to go?”
  • If not under arrest — leave immediately.
  • If under arrest — invoke your rights and stop talking.

Repeat the questions until you get an answer. That is your legal shield.

Call to Action

Need an Expert Witness?

Mark Schneider is available as an expert witness in self-defense, CCW, and security guard use-of-force cases.
He brings real-world training experience, knowledge of legal standards, and insight into how force decisions are made in high-stress situations.

Inquire about expert witness services

Don’t wait until it’s too late—know your rights, protect your future, and train smart.

Legal Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Always consult a licensed attorney regarding your specific situation.