In what may be a pivotal moment for American gun law reform, the National Rifle Association has become the object of intense pushback from anti-gun activists and survivors of last week’s mass shooting at a Florida high school that left 17 dead.
All the attention prompted the gun-rights group to break from its usual strategy of keeping quiet after mass gun deaths. NRA officials have gone on the attack to rail against the “politicization” of a tragedy, and going so far as to suggest that members of the media “love mass shootings” because of the ratings they supposedly bring.
The uproar has once again presented companies affiliated with the NRA, and its powerful pro-gun lobby, with a question: to cut ties, or to continue a relationship with a large but controversial group?
The NRA partners with dozens of businesses to spread its pro-gun message and provide discounts to its members, who number 5 million, according to the group. But this week, some companies have begun to jump ship.
Facing pressure from consumers, the First National Bank of Omaha said Thursday it would stop issuing NRA-branded Visa credit cards after its contract with the group expires. Enterprise Holdings, which operates the rental car brands Enterprise, National and Alamo, says it will end its discount program for NRA members next month, along with Avis and Budget. Hertz is out, too.
Other companies ditching the NRA include Chubb, which underwrites the NRA’s Carry Guard firearms insurance; Symantec’s LifeLock, an identity-theft prevention service, and Norton, which offers computer security software; home security system provider SimpliSafe; Allied and North American Van Lines, two moving services; TrueCar, which powered a new and used car site; and MetLife, which had offered savings on home and auto insurance to NRA members.
“We value all our customers but have decided to end our discount program with the NRA,” a MetLife spokesman said in a statement.
On Friday, software company Wild Apricot said it had asked the NRA to remove its logo from the organization’s website. “We have contacted the NRA directly and asked them to remove our logo and the affiliated text, as they were actually using that without permission from us,” a spokesperson told ThinkProgress.
After initially defending discounts for NRA members traveling to Dallas in May for the group’s annual convention, both Delta and United announced plans to end their respective relationships with the NRA Saturday. Starkey Hearing Technologies, which offered savings on hearing aids for members, also stated it would not renew its contract with the NRA.
The following companies, however, have not indicated that they plan to sever ties with the gun-rights group:
Amazon
Amazon continues to offer the NRA TV app, allowing anyone with a Fire TV or certain game controllers to watch the NRA’s television channel, despite calls from high-profile activists to drop the content.
Everytown and Moms Demand Action, two gun safety groups, joined forces to launch a campaign Friday demanding that streaming services stop offering NRA TV.
“NRA TV is home to the NRA’s most dangerous and violence-inciting propaganda,” Moms Demand Action founder Shannon Watts said in a statement. “It’s time for tech leaders to acknowledge their role in helping the NRA spread this dangerous content and cut it out.”
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Apple
The NRA TV app is also available on Apple TV. The company did not respond to a request for comment.
Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s
Along with Cabela’s, which it acquired in 2017, Bass Pro Shops offers a wide variety of outdoor gear, and both stores are set to appear at the NRA’s national convention in May. A company spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Clearent
Clearent, a credit card processing company, offers “firearms friendly” services geared toward NRA members. A representative did not respond to a request for comment.
FedEx
FedEx offers NRA members discounts from 18 percent to 26 percent on domestic and international shipping. A page on the NRA website describing FedEx offers has been removed, but the shipping company has not made a statement about any change in its relationship with the gun-rights group.
GunsDown, an anti-gun group, has been petitioning FedEx to end its affiliation with the NRA for over a year.
Harland Clarke Direct Selling Solutions
Harland Clarke offers NRA-branded checks to members. The company did not respond to a request for comment.
HotelPlanner
The company powers the NRA’s travel discount site, offering savings on airfare and hotel reservations with major chains including Best Western, Mariott, Hampton Inn and others. HotelPlanner intends to honor its contract with the NRA.
“Our company provides discounted rooms to several large associations, including the NRA. These associations greatly benefit our customers by buying discounted rooms from groups that might otherwise be charged a penalty by hotels for not using all of the rooms in their block,” HotelPlanner CEO Tim Hentschel said in a statement. “Many of our groups are charity events, weddings, family reunions, and youth sports teams, so saving these groups that are on a budget from any unforeseen expense is our number one priority at HotelPlanner.com.”
Hyatt Regency (Dallas)
The Hyatt Regency hotel in Dallas will host NRA events during the group’s annual convention in May. A representative did not immediately return a request for comment.
Lockton Affinity
NRA members can purchase firearms insurance through Lockton Affinity, a group insurance provider. The company did not respond to a request for comment.
ManageUrID
ManageUrID, which aims to prevent personal information from being spread online, offers unspecified savings to NRA members. It did not respond to a request for comment.
MidwayUSA
MidwayUSA offers a wide variety of outdoor goods, including camping gear, all-weather clothing and firearms.
“No company in America is more dedicated to, and more supportive of, the goals of the National Rifle Association than MidwayUSA,” it states on its website.
NetSpend
Through NetSpend, gun rights supporters can buy prepaid NRA-branded Visa debit cards. The company said it is reviewing its relationship with the NRA.
Visa, meanwhile, said in a statement this week that its co-branded cards “do not represent an endorsement by Visa of that cause or organization.”
“We strive to make our payment services available to all people in all places, for uses consistent with local, national, and international laws,” a Visa spokeswoman said.
Omni Hotels
Omni’s Dallas outpost will host events put on by the NRA as part of its national convention in May. A spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.
Roku
Roku is another video streaming device that makes NRA TV available to viewers. A Roku spokeswoman said the company is “deeply saddened” by the Florida shooting.
“We operate an open streaming platform” that allows customers to choose from thousands of entertainment, news and special interest channels, the spokeswoman said. “However our content policies prohibit the publication of content that is unlawful, invites illegal activities or violates third-party rights, among other things. If we determine that a channel violates these policies, it will be removed.”
SiriusXM
Sirius airs a show from NRA TV called “Cam & Co” on its conservative Patriot station, where host Cam Edwards discusses current events in terms of how they might affect gun rights. A company spokesperson did not immediately return a request for comment.
Vinesse Wines
Vinesse operates a variety of wine clubs. The NRA has claimed its American Cellars Wine Club (the company’s flagship) as its official group. Vinesse did not respond to a request for comment.
YouTube
NRA TV is also available on YouTube, which operates a “three strikes” policy on channels that violate its terms and conditions. A representative did not respond to a request for comment.
Also: Various local businesses
The NRA Business Alliance maintains a directory of local businesses .. https://www.nraba.org/BA/Directory .. that support the group. Organized by state and business type, they include sporting goods stores, legal services, security companies and insurance providers. It appears any type of business can apply to be included in the directory ? the White Oak Grille in Coatesville, Missouri, for example, claims a spot.
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