Press Claims No Impact To Companies Ditching NRA

As the national media continues a scorched-earth campaign that somehow places blame on the National Rifle Association and its members for last week’s horrible murder of 17 kids and teachers at a Florida high school, some companies seem to be taking sides and choosing gun control over protection of constitutional rights. The mainstream media is following up on stories of companies cutting ties with the NRA with stories saying there has been no negative impact on those companies.

While the NRA and 2nd Amendment supporters get the blame, lost on the mainstream media—and apparently some in corporate America—is that no additional laws would have stopped the murderer. Existing laws, like the one making the school a gun-free zone, didn’t stop the violent act. A law against murder with a potential penalty of a death sentence didn’t prevent it. However, some apparently believe more laws that erode the 2nd Amendment rights of people who never violate the law is the proper path of “doing something,” and that an organization that protects a constitutional right is worthy of public rebuke.

Meanwhile, details continue to emerge on how many times local law enforcement and the FBI were contacted about the murderer—direct tips that he was going to shoot people at the specific school. Local law enforcement was contacted 43 times about the person before the shooting. School administrators knew the person was dangerous, even forbidding him from carrying a backpack after gun threats and instances of carrying knives to school. Despite breaking numerous laws—fights, weapons violations, mutilation of animals—the person was never charged for any of the crimes.

It’s one thing for a company to make a decision to stop supporting a particular organization—happens all the time. But it’s a political statement to do so when announcing the decision through social media and statements to the press.

GON publisher Steve Burch said, “Worse, the actions of these companies accuse the NRA of some culpability in these awful acts. The FBI failed, the local police failed, the school failed. The law did not fail, those charged with administering it failed.”

Based on comments we are hearing, it’s difficult to believe there won’t be a negative impact to these brands. Here is a list of companies that decided to dump NRA and its members.

Delta Air Lines thought it a wise decision to announce on social media it was “ending their contract for discounted rates through our group travel program” for NRA members.

United Airlines thought Delta’s idea was great. So United followed Delta’s lead, saying “United is notifying the NRA that we will no longer offer a discounted rate to their annual meeting.”

REI stopped selling products from Vista Outdoors, like Bell bike helmets and CamelBak water bottles, simply because Vista also has ties to the NRA and gun-manufacturing business with some of its brands.

Best Western decided it needed to make sure everyone knew that the company “does not have an affiliation with and is not a corporate partner of the National Rifle Association.”

Wyndham Hotels previously offered a 10 percent discount to NRA members, but announced it is no longer affiliated with the NRA.

Hertz rental-car company ended a discount program for NRA members.

Enterprise rental-car company, which includes Enterprise, National and Alamo, ended a discount program for NRA members.

Avis Budget car rental, which includes the Avis, Budget and Zipcar lines, will no longer offer an NRA member discount effective March 26.

TrueCar, an online car-buying company that delivers a car to your address, proudly announced it ended its relationship with the NRA.

First National Bank of Omaha stopped issuing an NRA Visa Card.

Symantec security software company no longer offers discounts to NRA members. LifeLock, the identity theft protection company acquired by Symantec last year, has also stopped its discount program.

Chubb, a large insurance company, stopped offering an NRA insurance program for gun owners.

MetLife stopped providing discounts for the NRA members on coverage for RVs, motorcycles and boats.

SIRVA owns two moving companies, Allied Van Lines and North American Van Lines, which both ended an affiliate relationship with the NRA.

Starkey Hearing Aids announced it would stop a discount program for NRA members.