This image, shared by mainstream news outlet USA Today, wasn’t intended to be a meme when it first hit the social media feeds — but it didn’t take long for it to become one.
The infographic was part of a collage showcasing the “possible modifications” gun owners can make to AR-15 rifles. Some of the adjustments appeared reasonable — which included changes to the tigger firing mechanism and the hand grip. However, the article instantly lost any credibility it might have had when it warned that some gun owners are fixing a chainsaw bayonet to the end of their barrels.
This is ridiculous for obvious reasons, as such a feature would likely render the weapon to be completely useless. USA Today spent the rest of the news cycle being completely roasted on Twitter, with users commenting “modifications” of their own. AR-15s were shown with with attached ICBMs, Sherman tanks, other AR-15s, and anime characters.
All of this underscores how disconnected media types typically are from the country they cover. Truthfully, all they really accomplished was inspiring wild new fantasies on the part of gun owners.
~ Facts Not Memes
