In the wake of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Florida, several social media users started to pressure companies that work with the NRA on discounts and other programs to stop their affiliation.
Enterprise Rent-A-Car and First National Bank of Omaha – which sponsored an NRA-related credit card – were the first to cut ties which opened the door for other companies to follow suit.
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
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 of Omaha (@fnbo) February 22, 2018
Insurance company Chubb Limited said Friday that it will stop underwriting “NRA Carry Guard,” a policy marketed to NRA members who face legal or civil lawsuits after they shoot someone. A spokesman for Chubb told Reuters that the company informed the NRA of the decision three months ago; the policy has faced criticism from gun-control groups who called it “murder insurance,” the Chicago Tribune reported.
Fox News reports:
Radio host Tony Katz blasted the companies that announced they were cutting ties with the National Rifle Association.
“This is the list of companies that don’t believe in freedom of thought or freedom of expression,” Tony Katz said.
Avis Car Rental, Allied Van Lines, Budget Rent-A-Car, Chubb, Delta Airlines, Hertz Rent-A-Car, MetLife, North American Van Lines, TrueCar, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Symantec and United Airlines all later cut ties as well.
Katz called for viewers to “study that list” and realize that the companies are effectively saying “how dare you think differently.”
Leland Vittert said MetLife, an insurance provider – whose name is also on the stadium home to the New York Giants and New York Jets – has a similar association with the Teamsters.
Vittert said MetLife did not provide a statement on the matter when his team inquired.
“Snoopy has nothing to say?” Katz asked, referencing the “Peanuts” character the company uses for its mascot.
Katz said the companies on the whole are “basing their business practices on thought-policing and that has to be dealt with.”
