LOL, the idea of firing a gun to check to see if it's loaded...
Not unusual with people that use guns as tools of the trade. In conflict zones, we have clearing barrels and test fire areas marked off. One to make sure the weapon
is safe, and the other to make sure it's
not safe. You can fire a burst or two into the target area when leaving the wire, and when you return, you clear, then "click" then "feel" and "look" into the chamber.
It happened a few times that it wasn't a clear and "click" but a clear and "bang!" into a clearing barrel. Shit happens....and when it goes wrong with a firearm of any size, it can get "real" very quickly.
Training actors to know how to make a firearm safe should be common sense (apparently it's not). Even blanks can cause serious injuries if misused. I'm appalled that firearm safety on the part of the actor isn't part of regular practice.
NEVER trust that a gun handed to you isn't "live". First thing is for
YOU to verify the status of the weapon (empty/loaded/racked/safe or anything in-between). It's been drilled into my head since I was old enough to walk, that all firearms are "live" until you can prove otherwise.