Companies and Brands

NRA Risks Support of Some Businesses

Paul Ausick

Published: February 23, 2018 10:29 am

Last Updated: January 12, 2020 3:07 am

The horrific killing of 17 students and faculty at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, has caused at least a few businesses to rethink their relationship to the National Rifle Association (NRA) and, possibly, to the makers of guns like the one used in last week’s shooting.

The First National Bank of Omaha, the nation’s largest privately owned bank, has said that it will not renew its contract with the NRA to issue an NRA-branded Visa credit card. The bank had issued two NRA-branded cards, one offering 5% cash back on purchases of gas and sporting goods and the other offering a low introductory APR. Both offered a $40 bonus, an amount equal to an annual individual membership in the NRA.

Three car rental firms — Enterprise, Alamo and National — have terminated their relationship with the NRA that provided discounts to NRA members. All three are owned by privately held Enterprise Holdings. According to tweets posted at ThinkProgress, the program will end March 26.

In a related announcement, the world’s largest asset management firm, BlackRock Inc. (NYSE: BX) has said it will talk to gunmakers and distributors “to understand their response” to the Parkland shooting. According to a report from Reuters, BlackRock owns about 17% of Sturm, Ruger & Co. Inc. (NYSE: RGR) and 11% of American Outdoor Brands Corp. (NASDAQ: AOBC), maker of Smith & Wesson firearms, mostly in index funds. BlackRock did not indicate that it planned to divest its positions.

President Trump has stated that he does not favor a ban on assault-style weapons and suggests that training and arming selected teachers may be a better approach. Shares of Sturm, Ruger added about 3.6% on Thursday and American Outdoors stock added less than 1%.

A year ago we looked at some of the advertised benefits of NRA membership. Excluding terminations we are aware of (shown with strikethrough text), here’s what we found:

• NRA magazines, including Rifleman and American Hunter
• NRA Visa (donation goes to NRA from all purchases) with 0% APR for first six billing cycles
• Wyndham Hotel 20% discount, as well as deals at Best Western, Howard Johnson, Knights Inn, Microtel, Days Inn, Baymont, Ramada, Super 8 and Travelodge
• Property and casualty insurance, term life insurance, auto and home insurance
• Enterprise Rent-a-Car
• LifeLock identity theft protection (60 days risk free and 10% off)
• NRA car buying service (average of $3,279 from MSRP) and discounts on used cars
• Budget rental cars (up to 25% off)
• Hertz (up to 25% off)
• NRA customer top-tier checks
• NRA prescription drug plan
• NRA hearing aids
• Partnership with Medical Concierge Network
• Licensed Moose ATV and UTV products
• Allied Mover discounts
• Cigar discounts
• Wine club that offers NRA members four wines for $29.99, a savings of over $84

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