Delta Airlines and United Airlines are the most recent companies to sever ties with the National Rifle Association over the Florida shooting.
A series of American companies who previously offered discounts to NRA members have cut ties with the association and asked that their company information is removed from NRA websites, due to public pressure.
Delta issued the following statement today:
"Delta is reaching out to the National Rifle Association to let it know that the airline will be ending its contract for discounted fares for travel to the association's annual meeting through Delta's group travel program. The company will request that the NRA remove Delta's information from its meeting website. "
Delta is reaching out to the NRA to let them know we will be ending their contract for discounted rates through our group travel program. We will be requesting that the NRA remove our information from their website.
— Delta (@Delta) February 24, 2018
United Airlines followed suit, releasing a similar statement today.
United is notifying the NRA that we will no longer offer a discounted rate to their annual meeting and we are asking that the NRA remove our information from their website.
— United Airlines (@united) February 24, 2018
Enterprise Car Rental and the First National Bank of Omaha were some of the earlier companies to cut ties.
After the first car rental operations ended their discount details, the rest seemed to follow like a stack of dominoes.
In the past 48 hours, the following companies have cut ties with the NRA:
Avis, Alamo Rent a Car, Allied Van Lines, Bestwestern, Budget Chubb Insurance, Delta Air Lines, Enterprise Rent-a-Car, First National Bank of Omaha, Hertz, MetLife, North American Van Lines, Paramount Rx, SimpliSafe, Symantec, TrueCar and United.
The public pressure to boycott the NRA follows the recent Florida high school shooting, where alleged student and gunman, Nikolas Cruz, shot and killed 17 people on Valentine's Day, using a semi-automatic rifle, the AR-15.
Many Americans are seeking more restrictive current gun laws in the U.S., but there's also a large majority of NRA supporters and members think it's best to arm school faculty members.
With more than five million members, the NRA, has a strong voice at the White House.
Earlier this week, the NRA released the following statement, addressing their goal to keep firearms out of reach from "violent criminals and the dangerously mentally ill":
Today, Andrew Arulanadam from NRA Head Quarters, emailed NowMedia the following statement:
NRA STATEMENT ON CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS
(FAIRFAX, VA) – The more than five million law-abiding members of the National Rifle Association have enjoyed discounts and cost-saving programs from many American corporations that have partnered with the NRA to expand member benefits.
Since the tragedy in Parkland, Florida, a number of companies have decided to sever their relationship with the NRA, in an effort to punish our members who are doctors, farmers, law enforcement officers, firefighters, nurses, shop owners and school teachers that live in every American community. We are men and women who represent every American ethnic group, every one of the world’s religions and every form of political commitment.
The law-abiding members of the NRA had nothing at all to do with the failure of that school’s security preparedness, the failure of America’s mental health system, the failure of the National Instant Check System or the cruel failures of both federal and local law enforcement.
Despite that, some corporations have decided to punish NRA membership in a shameful display of political and civic cowardice. In time, these brands will be replaced by others who recognize that patriotism and determined commitment to Constitutional freedoms are characteristics of a marketplace they very much want to serve.
Let it be absolutely clear. The loss of a discount will neither scare nor distract one single NRA member from our mission to stand and defend the individual freedoms that have always made America the greatest nation in the world.
Founded in 1871, the original purpose was to "promote and encourage rifle shooting on a scientific basis," stated the organization.
Over the years, shooting sports for American youth were promoted and continue to be a cornerstone of the NRA's work. Currently, more than one million youth participate in the NRA's shooting sports events across the country.
In 1990, the NRA Foundation became a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt organization, with the purpose of raising "millions of dollars to fund gun safety and educational projects of benefit to the general public," stated the organization.
