Delta, United Airlines become latest companies to cut NRA ties

By Gina Cherelus

 

FILE PHOTO - Delta planes line up at their gates while on the tarmac of Salt Lake City International Airport in Utah September 28, 2013. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson/File Photo

 

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Delta Air Lines and United Airlines on Saturday became the latest major corporations to sever marketing ties with the National Rifle Association as the fallout from last week's massacre at a Florida high school took its toll on the gun advocacy group.

 

The exodus of corporate names, ranging from a major insurer to car rental brands and a household moving company, began after the NRA launched a counter-offensive against a student-led campaign for tighter U.S. gun laws.

 

The NRA responded by saying its members were being punished, but would not be intimidated, by what it called "a shameful display of political and civic cowardice" from some corporations.

 

In tweets on Saturday, Delta <DAL.N> and United said they were no longer offering NRA members discounted rates and they would ask the NRA to remove their information from its website.

 

The issue of gun control, and the NRA's role in opposing it, became the focus of renewed national debate after a former student killed 17 people on Feb. 14 at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in the Fort Lauderdale suburb of Parkland, using an AR-15 assault rifle he had purchased legally.

 

NRA spokespeople have lashed out at gun control advocates, arguing that Democratic elites are politicizing the deadly rampage in Florida to erode gun owners' rights.

 

In a statement on Saturday, the NRA said its more than five million law-abiding members had nothing to do with the failures of school security, the mental health system, or both local and federal law enforcement that it said had caused the tragedy.

 

"Despite that, some corporations have decided to punish NRA membership in a shameful display of political and civic cowardice," the statement said. "In time, these brands will be replaced by others who recognise that patriotism and determined commitment to Constitutional freedoms are characteristics of a marketplace they very much want to serve."

 

The attrition of NRA corporate partners began on Thursday when three rental car brands owned by Enterprise Holdings Inc said they were ending discount programs, and First National Bank of Omaha said it would not renew the NRA's contract to issue a co-branded Visa card.

 

By Friday, the list of defectors grew to include Symantec Corp <SYMC.O>, which ended a discount programme for its LifeLock identity theft product. Home security company SimpliSafe and Hertz Corp also terminated discount programs.

 

Chubb Ltd <CB.N> said it would stop underwriting a NRA-branded insurance policy for gun owners that covers legal costs in self-defence shootings. Another insurer, MetLife Inc <MET.N>, also said it had ended an auto and home incentive programme for NRA members. And North American Van Lines said it was scrapping its affiliate relationship with the NRA.

 

The U.S. Constitution's Second Amendment protects the right of Americans to bear arms. The NRA, which has long used campaign donations and effective lobbying to command political influence, argues that stricter gun control would erode individual rights.

 

(Reporting by Gina Cherelus; Writing by Daniel Wallis; Editing by Diane Craft and Chris Reese)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-02-27

There is already a backlash against these companies who are knuckling under to the false impression that the NRA is the "bad guy". 

9 minutes ago, Boon Mee said:

There is already a backlash against these companies who are knuckling under to the false impression that the NRA is the "bad guy". 

Actually the backlash is against the companies that are supporting the NRA since many are starting to see the NRA as the voice of gun manufacturers not gun owners 

12 minutes ago, Boon Mee said:

There is already a backlash against these companies who are knuckling under to the false impression that the NRA is the "bad guy". 

What is false about that impression? How does your right to bear arms somehow trump your fellow citizens' right to live, without the fear their children will be murdered at school?

7 minutes ago, halloween said:

What is false about that impression? How does your right to bear arms somehow trump your fellow citizens' right to live, without the fear their children will be murdered at school?

The American police shoot and kill as many children as high school teens.

Maybe they should make disarming the police force a priority?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/national/police-shootings-2017/

Edited February 27, 20188 yr by MaeJoMTB

1 minute ago, MaeJoMTB said:

The American police shoot and kill a lot more children than armed high school teens.

Maybe they should make disarming the police force a priority?

Throwing in a strawman argument won't help. Police would be far less likely to shoot ANYONE if they didn't expect every second offender to be armed. One party having a gun in a confrontation makes a shooting much more likely, both parties having guns moves it closer to inevitable.

There is already a backlash against these companies who are knuckling under to the false impression that the NRA is the "bad guy". 

No there isn’t.

2 hours ago, Langsuan Man said:

Actually the backlash is against the companies that are supporting the NRA since many are starting to see the NRA as the voice of gun manufacturers not gun owners 

Was once an organisation for rifle owners now turned into a Republican political tool. Shameful.

When will Americans accept that the civilised world totally rejects their crazy gun laws.  All of my American friends are ashamed of the NRA and the influence it has on the government.  

Edited February 27, 20188 yr by peterpop

So all the Guns are off the Flight Deck. No Way , just pacifying the simple.


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On 2/27/2018 at 5:11 PM, HAKAPALITA said:

So all the Guns are off the Flight Deck. No Way , just pacifying the simple.


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How do you come up with that statement from the article? Being anti NRA is not the same as being anti gun. They just no longer wish to support an organisation that doesn’t even want to have an independent research company look at how to reduce gun related fatalities. 

On 2/27/2018 at 8:31 AM, attrayant said:

 

No there isn’t.

 

"Georgia Republicans threaten to stop Delta tax break over NRA decision"

Delta Air has its hub in Atlanta,they stand to loose a $40 million dollar tax break on fuel taxes ,unless they back off the boycott !

Consider the options either move to another state,continue with their political statement and loose 40mil or stop punishing people that have not committed any crimes or wrong doing. 

http://money.cnn.com/2018/02/26/news/companies/delta-nra-georgia-republican/index.html

On 2/27/2018 at 10:57 AM, Jonnapat said:

Was once an organisation for rifle owners now turned into a Republican political tool. Shameful.

The NRA is still a organization that promotes safety and responsible gun ownership .Perhaps if the left wasn't so determine to condemn the second amendment  and the Constitutional rights of millions of  law abiding gun owners then they would see that they are punishing the wrong people. If the laws were enforced there would be less and less gun violence by people who commit crimes with guns. NRA will adhere to the laws congress passes,no problem .

Edited February 28, 20188 yr by riclag

1 hour ago, ncc1701d said:

How do you come up with that statement from the article? Being anti NRA is not the same as being anti gun. They just no longer wish to support an organisation that doesn’t even want to have an independent research company look at how to reduce gun related fatalities. 

Independent research to reduce gun related fatalities! The NRA wrote the book on gun safety.

The NRA is only concerned about protecting gun manufacturers....

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2018-02-28/how-defective-guns-became-the-only-product-that-can-t-be-recalled?utm_campaign=news&utm_medium=bd&utm_source=applenews

I never knew that guns are the only product that can’t be recalled ... thanks to the NRA ...


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3 hours ago, ncc1701d said:

How do you come up with that statement from the article? Being anti NRA is not the same as being anti gun. They just no longer wish to support an organisation that doesn’t even want to have an independent research company look at how to reduce gun related fatalities. 

That's correct.   I am not anti-gun, but I am anti-NRA.   I am also anti big pharma lobbies, but I still take medication.   

7 hours ago, riclag said:

"Georgia Republicans threaten to stop Delta tax break over NRA decision"

 

Delta Air has its hub in Atlanta,they stand to loose a $40 million dollar tax break on fuel taxes ,unless they back off the boycott !

Consider the options either move to another state,continue with their political statement and loose 40mil or stop punishing people that have not committed any crimes or wrong doing. 

 

http://money.cnn.com/2018/02/26/news/companies/delta-nra-georgia-republican/index.html

 

Let's see... republican lieutenant governor Casey Cagle threatens a private business over its ideology and deeply held beliefs (gun control).  In other news, republicans en masse fiercely support a business's right to maintain its ideology and deeply held beliefs (gay wedding cakes).  Nope, no contradiction there!

 

Also, the 2010 supreme court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission held that corporations have the same rights to express political views as actual people.  Republicans were, at the time, largely delighted by that decision.  So the stand-by governor's threat would be unconstitutional.

 

And in what world does removing a favoritism equate to punishment?  NRA members now have to pay the same price as normal people.  Is that punishment??

3 hours ago, attrayant said:

Also, the 2010 supreme court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission held that corporations have the same rights to express political views as actual people.

In my humble opinion,  corporations have no rights like actual people until Texas starts executing them ..........

15 hours ago, riclag said:

Independent research to reduce gun related fatalities! The NRA wrote the book on gun safety.

The NRA have lobbied for and had laws implemented to block the ability for the CDC to do actual independent research.

 

this is just one article - you can find many. http://www.newsweek.com/government-wont-fund-gun-research-stop-violence-because-nra-lobbying-675794

 

my question still stands - there’s nothing in the article which even remotely suggests that pilots are no longer able to carry (where they are allowed to already).

 

“Writing the book on safety” and succefully lobbying to stop research in how to reduce gun related fatalities are two completely different things. 

On 2/27/2018 at 8:26 AM, halloween said:

Throwing in a strawman argument won't help. Police would be far less likely to shoot ANYONE if they didn't expect every second offender to be armed. One party having a gun in a confrontation makes a shooting much more likely, both parties having guns moves it closer to inevitable.

Police shoot even when the "Suspect" is running.   Don't try to say cops are afraid - they shoot first and ask questions later.

15 hours ago, sangtip2 said:

Police shoot even when the "Suspect" is running.   Don't try to say cops are afraid - they shoot first and ask questions later.

Why is it that other countries with armed police have far fewer police shootings?

Worked out well for Delta.

Delta airlines just lost a $40 million tax break in Georgia after making the decision to pull long-held discounts from NRA members.

https://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2018/03/01/breaking-delta-loses-40-million-tax-break-after-slamming-nra-members-n2454588

27 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Worked out well for Delta.

Delta airlines just lost a $40 million tax break in Georgia after making the decision to pull long-held discounts from NRA members.

https://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2018/03/01/breaking-delta-loses-40-million-tax-break-after-slamming-nra-members-n2454588

That shows how justified the Delta decision was and how entrenched the NRA is in the republican party.

On ‎3‎/‎3‎/‎2018 at 4:12 AM, halloween said:

Why is it that other countries with armed police have far fewer police shootings?

Same reason they have less mass and  school shootings. Population just not as psychologically prepared to use guns.

1 minute ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Same reason they have less mass and  school shootings. Population just not as psychologically prepared to use guns.

I think it is a lot easier: less people have guns.

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Worked out well for Delta.

Delta airlines just lost a $40 million tax break in Georgia after making the decision to pull long-held discounts from NRA members.

https://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2018/03/01/breaking-delta-loses-40-million-tax-break-after-slamming-nra-members-n2454588

Well I am not a lawyer but I am pretty sure that this piece of "legislation" will be challenged and will turn out to be illegal. It has clearly been imposed on Delta for removing a discount that all other non-NRA passengers were not entitled to. The reason for cutting the tax exemption was very clear and well publicised, It was NOTHING to do with tax law and everything to do with Republicans reacting to the NRA.

Edited March 4, 20188 yr by Andaman Al

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Same reason they have less mass and  school shootings. Population just not as psychologically prepared to use guns.

It is not reasoning, it is fact, other countries have less mass and school shootings. What is so difficult to admit about that. It is true and requires no reasoning or logic.

 

As regards the population of the USA being more psychologically 'prepared' to use guns, that seems all the more reason to prevent them, -  more than the population of any other country, from having them. There is a certain 'psychological condition that has infected many in the US, and it goes a lot lot deeper than just being willing to use guns. The very fact that you dance around the edges in an apologists tone is symptomatic of the blind 'acceptance'.

 

I can't abide American airlines but if I have to fly them then Delta will be the airline of choice, and I will tell them why.

 

My father told me that if ever I believe I cannot change anything or improve anything, I am 100% correct.

Edited March 4, 20188 yr by Andaman Al

Has the NRA met it's match?

 

 

Delta tweeted last Saturday that they “will be requesting that the NRA remove our information from their website.”

Delta added: “Delta supports all of its customers but will not support organizations on any side of any highly charged political issue that divides our nation.”

Anyway if everybody is so interested in their business then check out datapo database. There is a lot of updated information about Delta company.

I've got a pound to a penny that the NRA shoot down the wrong airliner