US firms cut ties with the gun lobbying NGO, NRA
After the February 14 school shootout in Florida, several US companies have cut ties with the gun lobbying, NGO National Rifle Association (NRA). The firms include car rental giants Hertz and Enterprise, which earlier used to offer discounts to NRA members. The murder of 17 people at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida has prompted renewed calls for strict gun control.
The number of school/university shootouts in the US is alarming
The Florida shootout marks the eighteenth such incident in the US in 2018. According to Everytown for Gun Safety group, there have been 291 instances of school/university shootings in the US since January 2013.
Which companies have cut ties with the NRA?
Enterprise Holdings, which own car rental firms Alamo, Enterprise, and National, said that it would stop offering discounts to NRA members. First National Bank of Omaha announced that it wouldn't renew NRA-branded credit cards. MetLife Insurance, the Avis Budget group, home security firm Simplisafe, moving companies Allied Van Lines, and security firm Symantec Corp also distanced themselves from the NRA.
The NRA takes to Twitter to defend itself
Shockingly, President Trump has also defended the NRA
The NRA, which claims a membership of around five million people, did not respond to the BBC's request for a comment. However, the gun lobby took to Twitter to defend itself. While many are supporting the boycott, others have spoken out against it. President Trump has also jumped to the defense of the NRA on Twitter.
Donald Trump defends the NRA
Meanwhile, Florida governor calls for raising minimum-age for buying guns
Following the shootout, Florida governor Rick Scott has backed calls to raise the minimum age for buying a gun from 18 to 21. Scott, who was earlier seen as an ally of the NRA, had resisted previous attempts to raise the minimum age. Activists have been flooding NRA-linked firms' social media feeds with comments with the hashtag #BoycottNRA.
