A blank is a type of cartridge for a gun that contains gunpowder but no bullet or shot. Blanks are commonly used for safety reasons in military training maneuvers, in movies that require gun fights and in starter's pistol s to signal the beginning of races. However, it should be noted that given the speed of a blank cartridge they are by no means safe, as evidenced by the deaths of actors Brandon Lee and Jon-Erik Hexum , who were shot to death with blank guns while filming a movie and TV series, respectively. Lee was killed by an old bullet lodged in the gun, which was propelled by the firing of the blank; Hexum died when a wadding penetrated his skull. Also, they can cause damage to the eardrum. Ammunition
