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Florida shooting: US airlines join other firms in dropping NRA Florida shooting: US airlines join other firms in dropping NRA
(35 minutes later)
Two major US airlines have joined a growing list of companies to cut ties with the National Rifle association following the Florida school shooting. Two major US airlines have joined a growing list of companies to cut ties with the National Rifle Association following the Florida school shooting.
United and Delta airlines have both announced they are ending discounts for NRA members.United and Delta airlines have both announced they are ending discounts for NRA members.
The killing of 17 people in Florida has revived the gun control debate in the US, with student survivors playing a leading role in calling for change.The killing of 17 people in Florida has revived the gun control debate in the US, with student survivors playing a leading role in calling for change.
Firms with links to the US gun lobby have faced calls for a boycott.Firms with links to the US gun lobby have faced calls for a boycott.
Activists have flooded the NRA's corporate partners with comments on social media under the hashtag #BoycottNRA.Activists have flooded the NRA's corporate partners with comments on social media under the hashtag #BoycottNRA.
The suspect in the attack, Nikolas Cruz, was said to be obsessed with guns and bought the semi-automatic rifle he allegedly used at the school in Parkland legally last year while aged 18.The suspect in the attack, Nikolas Cruz, was said to be obsessed with guns and bought the semi-automatic rifle he allegedly used at the school in Parkland legally last year while aged 18.
Which companies have cut NRA ties?Which companies have cut NRA ties?
United and Delta airlines were the latest firms on Saturday to drop their ties to the powerful gun advocacy organisation. Between them they fly more than 300 million passengers a year.United and Delta airlines were the latest firms on Saturday to drop their ties to the powerful gun advocacy organisation. Between them they fly more than 300 million passengers a year.
Other firms dropping ties to the NRA include:Other firms dropping ties to the NRA include:
What has the NRA said?What has the NRA said?
The NRA, which claims five million members, did not respond to a request for comment about the effect of the boycott.The NRA, which claims five million members, did not respond to a request for comment about the effect of the boycott.
The group defended itself in comments on Twitter, saying people upset about the shooting should focus on lapses by law enforcement.The group defended itself in comments on Twitter, saying people upset about the shooting should focus on lapses by law enforcement.
"Instead of placing the blame on an organization that defends everyone's #2A rights, maybe people should take a hard look at the number of failures by the FBI and local law enforcement agencies, or does that not fit your agenda?" it wrote, referring to the constitutional amendment that protects gun rights."Instead of placing the blame on an organization that defends everyone's #2A rights, maybe people should take a hard look at the number of failures by the FBI and local law enforcement agencies, or does that not fit your agenda?" it wrote, referring to the constitutional amendment that protects gun rights.
NRA chief executive Wayne LaPierre spoke out on Thursday, arguing that "opportunists" were using the 14 February tragedy to expand gun control and abolish US gun rights.NRA chief executive Wayne LaPierre spoke out on Thursday, arguing that "opportunists" were using the 14 February tragedy to expand gun control and abolish US gun rights.
"They hate the NRA. They hate the second amendment. They hate individual freedom," he said."They hate the NRA. They hate the second amendment. They hate individual freedom," he said.
Prior campaigns aimed at the NRA have had limited results.Prior campaigns aimed at the NRA have had limited results.
Is this a turning point?Is this a turning point?
The US is no stranger to school shootings, but the response of students who survived the attack on Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School appears to have given fresh impetus to attempts to strengthen gun control.The US is no stranger to school shootings, but the response of students who survived the attack on Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School appears to have given fresh impetus to attempts to strengthen gun control.
A marketing professor, Scott Galloway, told NBC News that in dropping ties to the NRA, companies were calculating what would be in the best interests of their business.A marketing professor, Scott Galloway, told NBC News that in dropping ties to the NRA, companies were calculating what would be in the best interests of their business.
"The most valuable person in world of consumer business is an 18 year old. Their recent galvanization against the issue has made the NRA very uncool," he said."The most valuable person in world of consumer business is an 18 year old. Their recent galvanization against the issue has made the NRA very uncool," he said.
Bob Spitzer, a scholar on gun politics at SUNY Cortland and a scholar on gun politics, agreed the companies' moves were most likely a reaction to the Florida shooting, but said it was too early to say what the impact would be. Bob Spitzer, a scholar on gun politics at SUNY Cortland, agreed the companies' moves were most likely a reaction to the Florida shooting, but said it was too early to say what the impact would be.
"If this is as far as it goes, it probably won't have any measurable effect... Usually what happens is that the storm passes, and the NRA counts on that," he told CBS."If this is as far as it goes, it probably won't have any measurable effect... Usually what happens is that the storm passes, and the NRA counts on that," he told CBS.