Let me preface is this by saying I’m a big fan of Mythbusters, but like many of you I’ve been expecting something like this would happen for quite some time… Accidents happen, but what happened Tuesday, while Mythbusters co-hosts Tory Belleci, Kari Byron and Grant Imahara were working on either proving or debunking myths related to the ability of stone cannonballs to break through castle walls was a foreseeable and preventable accident.
First of all firing a cannon anywhere near a residential neighborhood is spectacularly bad idea. Second this isn’t the first time they’ve had a cannonball get away from them or caused property damage, remember the matchstick cannon and neon orange bowling ball?
A lot of what they do — working energetic materials is inherently dangerous, and things can go horribly wrong. Look I don’t want this to sound like I’m bashing the Mythbusters team, they have admirable safety record — eight plus years without a Class A or even a Class B mishap is a record to be envied. That said, the Alameda County Sheriffs Department bomb disposal range is not an appropriate or safe location to be firing cannons. The incident with the matchstick cannon bouncing a projectile 1,500 feet up a hill should have made that clear.
One hopes that in the future they’ll conduct experiments involving cannons at a more appropriate location such as an artillery range or other remote location that isn’t closely bordered by densely populated residential or commercial areas.
Related
- Mythbusters cannonball ‘myth-fires’ – The Register
- ‘MythBusters’ cannonball stunt goes awry – Houston Chronicle
- ‘MythBusters’ Hosts, Adam Savage and Jamie Hynerman, Visit California Home Damaged by Cannonball – Foxnews.com
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‘MythBusters’ cannon ball accident caused by ‘unforeseen bounce’ – Washington Post
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‘MythBusters’ hosts: Sorry about that cannonball – San Francisco Chronicle
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MythBusters aren’t Jackasses. Let’s keep that in mind. – Entertainment Weekly
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