NRA brushes off business shunnings

WASHINGTON—The National Rifle Association (NRA) downplayed the effect of more than a dozen corporations ending special deals with group members since the Feb. 14 school shooting in Parkland, Fla. “Some corporations have decided to punish NRA membership in a shameful display of political and civic cowardice,” the NRA wrote in a statement. “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.” A growing list of businesses began distancing themselves from the NRA over the weekend after survivors of the shooting, in which 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz killed 17 people, rallied for gun control. Delta Air Lines and United Airlines announced they would no longer provide discounted flights to NRA members or grant subsidized group rates for the NRA’s annual meeting. Hertz and Enterprise announced they would also no longer extend discounts on car rentals to NRA members. “Let it be absolutely clear,” the NRA’s statement continued. “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.” The NRA has more than 5 million members in the United States. Since the tragedy in Parkland, the NRA said it needs to be harder for mentally ill Americans to obtain firearms, but it dismissed calls to ban assault weapons. The NRA also signaled support for President Donald Trump’s idea to arm more teachers and other school personnel to deter attacks.