In the wake of the recent mass shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, survivors customers have been urging large corporations to end NRA membership benefits and discounts.
Since the school shooting, major companies have been cutting their ties with the NRA after receiving strong criticism over the incident, which left 17 dead.
The news site Think Progress posted a list of companies that offer special NRA membership discounts to their customers. Shortly after, activists, customers and others affected by gun violence began spreading the names of companies on social media. An online movement was created using the hashtag #BoyottNRA and customers began threatening to boycott these companies — and many of them have listened.
Many of the large corporations support the NRA by offering discounts to members of the organization ranging from life insurance, travel deals to prescription medication.
Several companies have gone public to announce they are cutting ties with the NRA and/or ending NRA membership benefit programs after the boycotting campaign spread on social media.
The First National Bank of Omaha is one such company that decided to end its relationship with the NRA. According to Vox, the privately-owned bank has been associated with the NRA for more than a decade. An ad for its bank credit card described it as “The Official Credit Card of the NRA.” The Visa card offered money back on gas and sporting goods store purchases, but the company announced last week that it will end the benefits program with the NRA after receiving backlash from customers threatening to boycott the bank.
According to the First National Bank of Omaha website, they are “currently redesigning” their website. It is unclear if the redesign has anything to do with removing NRA membership-related content.
Despite several companies coming forward to announce they are ending their relationships with the NRA, the FedEx Corporation announced Monday it will continue to offer benefits and discounts to NRA members.
FedEx released a statement saying it does not agree with NRA’s gun policy positions, but it will continue to offer discounts to the organization’s members.
“FedEx opposes assault rifles being in the hands of civilians,” the company said in a statement.
“While we strongly support the constitutional right of U.S. citizens to own firearms subject to appropriate background checks, FedEx views assault rifles and large capacity magazines as an inherent potential danger to schools, workplaces, and communities when such weapons are misused.”
Companies ending NRA membership benefit programs
These companies have decided to cut their ties and end NRA membership programs after receiving criticism from its customers. Most of the companies released statements and posted messages to Twitter to inform their customers.
First National Bank of Omaha
The company tweeted: “Customer feedback has caused us to review our relationship with the NRA. As a result, First National Bank of Omaha will not renew its contract with the National Rifle Association to issue the NRA Visa Card.”
Customer feedback has caused us to review our relationship with the NRA. As a result, First National Bank of Omaha will not renew its contract with the National Rifle Association to issue the NRA Visa Card.
— First National Bank (@FNBOmaha) February 22, 2018
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
In a response to a Twitter user, the company tweeted: “Thank you for contacting us! All three of our brands have ended the discount for NRA members. This change will be effective March 26. Thank you again for reaching out. Kind regards, Michael”
Thank you for contacting us! All three of our brands have ended the discount for NRA members. This change will be effective March 26. Thank you again for reaching out. Kind regards, Michael
— EnterpriseRentACar (@enterprisecares) February 23, 2018
Delta
“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 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
“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 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
Hertz
“We have notified the NRA that we are ending the NRA’s rental car discount program with Hertz.”
We have notified the NRA that we are ending the NRA’s rental car discount program with Hertz.
— Hertz (@Hertz) February 23, 2018
Allied Van Lines
“Allied Van Lines no longer has an affiliate relationship with the NRA effective immediately. We have asked them to remove our listing from their benefits site.”
Allied Van Lines no longer has an affiliate relationship with the NRA effective immediately. We have asked them to remove our listing from their benefits site.
— Allied Van Lines (@alliedvl) February 23, 2018
MetLife
“We value all our customers but have decided to end our discount program with the NRA.”
We value all our customers but have decided to end our discount program with the NRA.
— MetLife (@MetLife) February 23, 2018
SimpliSafe
The Boston-based home security company also decided to cut ties with the NRA. “We have discontinued our existing relationship with the NRA,” said SimpliSafe CEO Chad Laurans in a statement to the Boston Herald.
Paramount Rx
“The prescription discount program that is made available to NRA members is offered through a third-party vendor. We are working with that vendor to discontinue the program and remove the offering.”
Thank you all for your feedback.
Paramount Rx issued the statement below.
“The prescription discount program that is made available to NRA members is offered through a third-party vendor. We are working with that vendor to discontinue the program and remove the offering.”— Paramount Rx (@ParamountRx) February 24, 2018
Symantec
“Symantec has stopped its discount program with the National Rifle Association.”
Symantec has stopped its discount program with the National Rifle Association.
— Symantec (@symantec) February 23, 2018
Best Western
Best Western Hotels & Resorts was on the list of companies with ties to the NRA, and many customers took to Twitter to question this affiliation. According to Best Western, the company cut its ties with the NRA back in 2014. “Best Western Hotels & Resorts does not have any affiliation with and is not a corporate partner of the National Rifle Association (NRA),” the company tweeted in response to a customer question. “Best Western ended any association with the NRA in 2014.”
Best Western Hotels & Resorts does not have any affiliation with and is not a corporate partner of the National Rifle Association (NRA). Best Western ended any association with the NRA in 2014.
— Best Western (@BestWestern) February 25, 2018
