The National Rifle Association released a statement Saturday calling companies cutting partnerships with the organization political and civic cowards that would not scare NRA members.
Delta and United Airlines joined a flurry of corporations this week severing ties with the gun rights lobbying organization, which has come under fire in the wake of the Feb. 14 Stoneman Douglas high school shooting in Florida that left 17 dead. In response, some Stoneman Douglas high school students and gun control activists have led a #BoycottNRA movement online.
The NRA's statement said its members had nothing to do with the failure of the school's security, the failure of America's mental health system, the failure of the National Instant Check System or "the cruel failures of both federal and local law enforcement." The FBI and Broward County Sheriff's office have both acknowledged significant lapses before and during the shooting carried out by Nikolas Cruz.
"Despite that, some corporations have decided to punish NRA membership in a shameful display of political and civic cowardice," the NRA said. "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."
"Let it be absolutely clear," the statement went on. "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."
It's another chapter in an increasingly ugly debate over gun rights after yet another mass shooting in America. First Bank of Omaha announced Thursday it would not renew its contract with the NRA to issue the NRA Visa Card, after "customer feedback" caused the bank to "review our relationship with the NRA."
Enterprise Holdings, Inc., the parent company of the car rental brands Enterprise, Alamo and National, also announced it would end its NRA partnership, which offered members discounts, as well as MetLife and Best Western hotels.
One student survivor of the shooting referred to the NRA as "child murderers." NRA spokeswoman Dana Loesch drew criticism after she said many in the legacy media like when mass shootings happen, due to the ratings they generate.
The full NRA statement reads:
The more than five million law-abiding members of the National Rifle Association have enjoyed discounts and cost-saving programs from many American corporations that have partnered with the NRA to expand member benefits.
Since the tragedy in Parkland, Florida, a number of companies have decided to sever their relationship with the NRA, in an effort to punish our members who are doctors, farmers, law enforcement officers, fire fighters, nurses, shop owners and school teachers that live in every American community. We are men and women who represent every American ethnic group, every one of the world’s religions and every form of political commitment.
The law-abiding members of the NRA had nothing at all to do with the failure of that school’s security preparedness, the failure of America’s mental health system, the failure of the National Instant Check System or the cruel failures of both federal and local law enforcement.
Despite that, some corporations have decided to punish NRA membership in 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.
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.