THIS TIME THE BUCKS STOP HERE
Car hire firms, airlines and hotels end NRA discounts
The National Rifle Association are facing a corporate backlash as companies take a closer look at their ties to the gun industry after the latest school massacre in the US.
A number of businesses have ended discount programmes with the NRA as the group aggressively resist calls for stricter gun control after 17 people were shot dead at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, last week.
The moves came as petitions circulated online targeting firms offering discounts to NRA members. “£ BoycottNRA” was trending on Twitter.
Members of the rifle association have access to special offers from partner companies on their website, ranging from l ife insurance to wine clubs.
But car rental f irm Hertz and software firm Symantec – who make the Norton antivirus technology – have ended their discount deals with the group.
Hertz tweeted: “We have notified the NRA that we are ending their rental car discount programme.”
Delta and United Airlines yesterday said they will no longer offer discounted fares to NRA members to attend their annual meetings.
And both have asked the group to remove any references to their companies from the NRA website.
Car rental firm Enterprise Holdings, who also own Alamo and National, earlier said they are cutting off discounts for NRA members. And First National Bank of Omaha, one of America’s largest privately held banks, announced that they would not renew a co-branded Visa credit card with the rifle association.
Other firms, including Wyndham Hotels and Best Western hotels, have let social media users know they are no longer affiliated with the group.
Insurance firm MetLife ended their discount programme on Friday and Chubb have said they are ending participation in the NRA’s gun-owner insurance programme.
Bob Spitzer, an expert on gun politics, said the corporate reaction was probably due to the huge number of student rallies after the Florida shootings.
He added: “If companies continue to (cut ties), it can start to have an adverse public relations effect.”
Last week, the NRA’s Wayne LaPierre said those advocating stricter gun control are exploiting the Florida tragedy.
President Donald Trump has aligned himself with the NRA, suggesting some teachers should be armed.