Washington, D.C. — As the National Rifle Association (NRA) grows increasingly out of touch with most American gun owners, the organization still claims “more than five million members.” A number of corporations are making membership to the group—which opposes nearly all gun safety legislation—more enticing by partnering with the NRA on a range of discounts and “five-star savings.” The NRA uses these incentives as a selling point for $40 annual memberships.
Since Tuesday, ThinkProgress, housed at the Center for American Progress Action Fund, has pressed more than 20 such companies for answers on whether they plan to continue their relationships with the gun lobby, and has since been joined by advocacy organizations as well as survivors of the Parkland, Florida, shooting.
Thus far, ten companies—Teladoc, SimpliSafe, Chubb, LifeLock, Norton, MetLife, First National Bank of Omaha, Enterprise, Alamo, National Car Rental—have cut ties with the NRA, and ThinkProgress continues to update readers on the status of the rest.
Chelsea Parsons, vice president of Gun Violence Prevention at the Center for American Progress Action Fund, applauded those speaking out:
“The NRA purports to speak for gun owners, but they have become nothing more than a front group for the gun industry. As the gun lobby not only seeks to block all reasonable gun legislation, but increasingly pushes laws that would flood our schools with even more guns, other private businesses will have to make their own business decisions on whether they want to help fund those efforts. The tragic shooting in Parkland, and the courage of the students speaking out, have activated millions of Americans who will no doubt continue to make their voices heard.”
For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Jesse Lee at [email protected], or 202.741.6350.