Are these companies playing with fire? Companies that have severed business relationships with the NRA
Bottom Line: In the wake of the Parkland shooting something exceedingly absurd has ensued.
1. Boycott efforts against the NRA
2. Companies caving to those boycott efforts
For starters 42% of American households contain legally owned guns. That doesn't necessarily mean there's that level of support for the NRA specifically, but it paints a picture of how extensively the right to bear arms is utilized in today's society. Whether one agrees with the NRA or not, and for the record I don't agree with them on all issues, you see the potential pool of Americans who might take exception to a company responding to boycotts against the most prominent organization supporting one's right to bear arms. So what companies have caved to the boycotts?
Here's a chronological list:
First National Bank (of Omaha)
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Alamo Rent a Car
National Car Rental
Symantec (parent of Norton anti-virus)
Hertz
MetLife
SimpliSafe (home security)
Avis
Budget Rent a Car
Allied Moving
North American Moving
TrueCar
Delta Airlines
United Airlines
Paramount Rx
Starkey
As stated I don't believe in boycotts however I do understand those who choose to vote with their wallet. I've heard from many who've expressed that they're planning to do so in this situation. The decisions made by these companies to cave to boycott efforts for a company unrelated to a horrible situation will doubtless further encourage irresponsible behavior by interest groups going forward. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction though right? I have a feeling some companies will regret their decision if they haven't already. For full disclosure I'm a gun owner, strong supporter of the 2nd Amendment but not an NRA member. I'm also not a supporter of boycotts regardless of one's view on any particular issue.