A number of companies have decided to end co-branding agreements with the National Rifle Association following pressure from gun-control advocates who blame the Second Amendment group for the tragic school shooting that took place in Parkland, Florida, last week.
The controversy first arose when ThinkProgress, a left-wing online publication, published an article disparaging 27 companies it claimed were enabling and supporting the NRA. The article aimed to shame companies that held contractual and mutually beneficial corporate partnerships with the NRA as being supporters of an organization that opposes "common sense gun laws." The corporate partnerships included discounts for NRA members at hotels, car rental agencies, and a premium home delivery wine service, amongst other offers.
The article initiated a social media campaign called #BoycottTheNRA, which seeks to force all businesses partnering with the NRA to end their agreements in an effort to starve the gun-rights group of legitimacy and funding.
A handy list of the companies that are still in business with the NRA https://t.co/yHIk29GUF0 pic.twitter.com/Nbe8n4U9jR
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) February 22, 2018
This is not really our focus, but it is pretty unbelievable that the NRA still has corporations like @Avis @Hertz @Enterprise @WyndhamRewards @FedEx and @LifeLock are still partnering with them for membership rewards. Why help enable this organization?
— Sleeping Giants (@slpng_giants) February 18, 2018
Enterprise Holdings, Inc., which is the parent company of car rental agencies Enterprise, Alama, and National, became one of the first companies to announce its intention to end discounts for NRA members. The company made the announcement on Twitter in response to individual users who criticized the organization's partnership. Enterprise Holdings has not released an official statement; however, they have made clear they will stop honoring the discount on March 26.
— EnterpriseRentACar (@enterprisecares) February 23, 2018
Two of Enterprise's biggest competitors, Hertz and Avis, have not followed suit, something that the five million supporters of the NRA were quick to note might have an impact on their future rental car choices.
Thank you @enterprisecares for helping me narrow down my rental options in the future. I'm usually overwhelmed by the number of companies to choose from but now I can safely cross you guys off the list. I'm sure @Hertz is equally as pleased.
— Kira (@RealKiraDavis) February 23, 2018
*whew* Close call. Imagine getting the business of millions of law abiding citizens instead of the momentary approval of an anonymous twitter account. You really dodged that ... well. You know. https://t.co/iokqRR1nNW
— Caleb Howe (@CalebHowe) February 23, 2018
On the heels of the announcement by Enterprise, the First National Bank of Omaha announced it too would end its partnership with the NRA. The bank, one of the largest privately owned creditors in the nation, issued co-branded credit cards with the NRA logo emblazoned on the front. In the past, the bank promoted itself as offering the "Official Credit Card of the NRA."
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
The Symantec Corporation, a cybersecurity and software company, announced that it was ending its partnership with the NRA. The organization, which offered discounts to NRA members on Norton anti-virus software and malware protection, announced the decision on Twitter.
Symantec has stopped its discount program with the National Rifle Association.
— Symantec (@symantec) February 23, 2018
Also on Friday, one of the nation's largest insurance companies, MetLife, Inc., announced it too would be cutting ties with the NRA.
We value all our customers but have decided to end our discount program with the NRA.
— MetLife (@MetLife) February 23, 2018