The NRA is losing company partnerships left and right
A movement is currently underway following the tragic Florida school shooting that claimed 17 lives. Teens are pushing forward a conversation about gun control, some politicians are starting to listen, and the NRA is feeling the heat from its sponsors. More and more companies are cutting ties with the organization, and it looks we’re finally, finally seeing progress and accountability unfold.
Social media users have been tightening the noose on companies that associate with the NRA by calling them out on Twitter alongside the hashtag #boycottNRA.
And it’s working.
National Bank of Omaha kicked it all off by tweeting that “customer feedback” had caused them to rethink their relationship with the NRA. The bank confirmed that they will not be renewing their partnership with the organization.
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
Then, MetLife hopped in and confirmed that they planned to end their discount program with the NRA, citing the fact that they “value” their customers.
We value all our customers but have decided to end our discount program with the NRA.
— MetLife (@MetLife) February 23, 2018
And then came two major airlines.
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 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
Annnnnd then a whole bunch of car rental companies stepped up to the plate.
Thanks for contacting us. We ended the program – Effective March 26. https://t.co/gwYeQR3xAh
— Alamo Rent A Car (@alamocares) February 23, 2018
Thanks for contacting us. We ended the program – effective March 26. https://t.co/BMqcoac4s2
— National Car Rental (@nationalcares) February 23, 2018
We have notified the NRA that we are ending the NRA’s rental car discount program with Hertz.
— Hertz (@Hertz) February 23, 2018
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
While this may seem like a small drop in the bucket of change, it’s significant and reassuring to see that social pressure actually works. Plus — by losing these companies from their roster — the NRA can no longer offer all those “valuable 5-star benefits” to subscribers.
The organization is, unsurprisingly, pretty pissed about all this. In a statement released on Saturday, the NRA accused their former partners of showing 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,” the statement read. “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.”
Okay, cool. Literally, no one is trying to take away the second amendment. We’re just looking for common sense gun laws. In the meantime, social media users are going to continue to crack down on companies that associate with the NRA — and the Twitterverse is suddenly looking like a glorious, strategic, well-organized space for activism.
Dear @Google,
Don't be evil. Please stay true to your company motto and dump NRA TV from Google Play. Nothing is more evil than supporting guns over people, bullets over children, and blood money over basic human rights.
Sincerely,#BoycottNRA
— Eugene Gu, MD (@eugenegu) February 24, 2018
Did you know…
@FedEx offers Wayne LaPierre and all NRA members discounts of up to 26% to ship packages
@USPS, @UPS and @DHLUS have NO business ties to the NRA
Please keep those facts in mind when you choose who ships your packages.#BoycottNRA
— Jon Cooper (@joncoopertweets) February 25, 2018
Apple – you used to be cool. What happened?
You can reach out to them in
https://t.co/jlZLSxINT5
— William LeGate (@williamlegate) February 24, 2018
Sundays used to be my do-nothing days
Now Sundays are all about resisting hate
Resisting lies
Resisting Trump & the GOP
And today, resisting the NRA
Call Amazon at 888-280-4331
Demand they drop NRA TV
I cancel Prime tomorrow if they don’t.
Will you?#BoycottNRA #SundayMorning— Bryce Tache (@brycetache) February 25, 2018
Keep the fight coming, everybody. It couldn’t be more important right about now.