In what may be a pivotal moment for American gun law reform, the
National Rifle Association has become a primary target for 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 to grotesquely suggest that members of the media “love” mass shootings.
The uproar is
once again confronting 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 rental car brands Enterprise, National and Alamo, will
end its discount program for NRA members next month. 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; and MetLife, which provided 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.