USA Today got wrecked on Twitter after the publication posted an illustration of an AR-15 rifle with a “chainsaw bayonet” attached to 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
The ostensible purpose of the graphic was to scare everyone about the AR-15 type rifle by showing over-the-top and completely impractical modifications. Moments later, the publication had to walk back the tweet and explain that the Texas church shooter, who killed at least 26 and injured as many others on Sunday, did not in fact use a rifle with a chainsaw bayonet attachment.
“The shooter did not use a chainsaw bayonet,” the publication was forced to acknowledge after getting dragged on Twitter.
Not a good look.
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
In the article linked to the tweet, USA Today left out the fact that the hero who stopped the shooter from killing any more innocent people also used an AR-15. In a recent interview, Stephen Willeford said the only reason he was able to stop the shooter, who was reportedly wearing body armor, was because he had his AR-15 rifle.
A lot of people rightly mocked USA Today‘s crazy illustration with a few rifle modification ideas of their own.
https://twitter.com/seanmdav/status/928369849193123852
Lol
this option might be the game changer! .@starwars #starwars #deathstar "This station is now the ultimate power in the universe! I suggest we use it!" pic.twitter.com/vFhvMVFEHW
— David J. Nemeth 🇺🇸 (@davidjnemeth) November 8, 2017
Oh man.
I prefer the Bradley Tank mod (WW2 version) pic.twitter.com/2QWhE7YM85
— LIT_CYBERMAN (@UKISOCIETY) November 8, 2017
Don’t tell North Korea about this one.
https://twitter.com/imdave_/status/928363987292557312
The force is strong with this one.
https://twitter.com/JacobMyth/status/928370460563333120
Blood, sweat, respect.
I can't believe this isn't illegal, @USATODAY pic.twitter.com/FT3E2VufPj
— Stephen Herreid (@StephenHerreid) November 8, 2017
Rawr.
https://twitter.com/mikesta12/status/928372476744216576
