News media frequently publishes misleading or blatantly false information when it comes to firearms. How many times have you heard the terms “assault rifle” and “clip” used incorrectly? Usually these mistakes are attributed to lack of experience, but USA Today’s recent blunder is just embarrassing.
Last year USA Today tweeted a video titled “A look at the gun used in the Texas church shooting.” The simple animated video shows an AR-15 and cycles through different “possible modifications.”
It seem’s pretty standard at first: collapsible stock, 100-round drum mag, trigger cranks, chainsaw bayonets.
Wait… Chainsaw bayonets?
Viewers were quickly took USA Today to school with some fantastic replies.
Our favorite comment by far came from Dana Loesch, the NRA spokeswoman who recently received death and rape threats from gun-control advocates.
These are from the Great Lumberjack War pic.twitter.com/MtUFp9GRtR
— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) November 8, 2017
It wasn’t long before more and more people started poking fun at USA Today.
This "chainsaw bayonet" looks like something out of the Walking Dead, not reality. https://t.co/iUbcr5a9zD
— Jordan Stein (@jordankstein) November 8, 2017
I’ve found @USATODAY’s gun expert pic.twitter.com/NmRg67Kz8L
— Greg Pollowitz (@GPollowitz) November 8, 2017
Sensible gun control is needed. pic.twitter.com/e1MVXvj9cf
— Lone Conservative (@LoConservative) November 8, 2017
I honestly didn't even know this was an option. pic.twitter.com/dzzkLys8P8
— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) November 8, 2017
Or this? pic.twitter.com/z6RTFPaLGd
— Jacob Smyth????️ (@JacobMyth) November 8, 2017
One viewer decided to make his own prototype, but with a Sawz-all instead of a chainsaw.
@USATODAY forget chainsaws… automatic sawz-all is the new hype pic.twitter.com/Ex5Z1lP7cl
— t3hp00ky (@t3hp00ky) November 8, 2017
After realizing their screw up, USA Today decided to issue an update.
To clarify, the video shows both the shooter’s modifications, as well as other possible modifications. The shooter did not use a chainsaw bayonet.
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) November 8, 2017
The hilariously awful video can be seen below. Watch it while you can, it’s only a matter of time before someone deletes it.
A look at the gun used in the Texas church shooting. https://t.co/xdxIf5fR77 pic.twitter.com/sUY1mCCLZC
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) November 8, 2017
What do you think about USA Today’s epic blunder?