Commander of Navy warship relieved of duty after backward rifle scope photo flap

[geox]

https://apnews.com/article/navy-yaste-uss-john-mccain-san-diego-3ea123fd26caf4f4981da068aea43135

[drcongo]

As a brit, with no knowledge of guns whatsoever, can someone explain why it's even possible to mount the scope the wrong way around?

[l1tany11 → drcongo]

Because it’s just a simple rail.

[mrlonglong → l1tany11]

But you'd have quickly realised it was the wrong way around if you looked through it. He didn't look.

[Suppafly → mrlonglong]

It was a photo-op, someone probably handed him the gun 30 seconds before the photo was taken. The may have installed it backwards to troll him. It's not like the commander of a giant vessel is out shooting over the side at the ocean in the normal course of their duties.

[mrlonglong → Suppafly]

Apparently he's been taken off duties for 'retraining'.