Firearm aficionados criticized a video posted on Wednesday by USA Today for its portrayal of the Ruger AR-556, the rifle that was reportedly used by the man who killed 26 people at a church in rural Texas on Sunday.
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USA Today issues a clarification after depicting a rifle with a 'chainsaw bayonet'
Firearm aficionados criticized a video posted by USA Today that portrayed a rifle it said was used by the gunman in the Texas church shooting.
In the brief video, USA Today identified components of the assault-style rifle and its attachments, some of them rare and ineffectual, including what appeared to be a belt-driven chainsaw.
Firearm enthusiasts and media personalities were quick to point out the far-fetched modification, the example of which some have used to fuel stereotypes against the gun industry and gun owners, particularly in the wake of mass shootings.
Sometimes I think the gun r... @ Christopher Ingraham
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Go home, USAToday, you're d... @ Geoffrey Ingersoll
.@NRA Can you send me a lis... @ Sean Davis
Me: Wow, the media can't sc... @ Julio Rosas
Some people found humor in the improbability of the attachment with memes.
no background check require... @ Christopher Ingraham
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The best ones so far. cc: ... @ Jerry Dunleavy #emo##emo#
USA Today replied to its video with the tweet, saying: "To clarify, the video shows both the shooter's modifications, as well as other possible modifications. The shooter did not use a chainsaw bayonet."
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