GOP rep mocks Navy over backward scope in Instagram pic

Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.) mocked the Navy Wednesday for posting a photo of a commanding officer holding an assault weapon with a backward scope, which has since been removed from social media. 

Collins posted Wednesday a purportedly edited photo of a pistol with a backward barrel, with the text, “Navy’s newly issued sidearm.” 

The post came shortly after the U.S. Navy’s Instagram account published a photo of the commanding officer of the USS John S. McCain — an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer — with an assault weapon that had its scope mounted backward. 

The officer was firing at a target known as a “Killer Tomato,” and the caption said he was observing “the live-fire exercise event. The ship is in U.S. 7th Fleet conducting routine operations,” the New York Post reported.

The caption noted the “7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with Allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific Region,” the Post added. 

The photo received a series of comments pointing out the backward scope, prompting the Navy to take down the photo from its Instagram account.

It later posted a photo of a sailor conducting maintenance with the caption, “Highlighting the amazing work of our U.S. Navy Sailors!” 

“From engaging in practice gun shoots, conducting maintenance, testing fuel purity, and participating in sea and anchor details, the #USNavy is always ready to serve and protect,” the caption continued. “Thank you for pointing out our rifle scope error in the previous post. Picture has been removed until EMI is completed!” 

The follow-up post has several comments taking aim at the mistake.

One user amassed more than 2,000 likes for a comment reading, “Hey you guys remember the one time when the Navy posted a picture of some dude with a backwards scope and unseated quad? I do. Ahh memories. Seems like it was just a while ago.” 

Another commenter quipped, “It’s too late navy. It’s etched into our brains.” 

The Hill reached out to the Navy for further comment.