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 cyclesWyndham Hotel 20% discount, as well as deals atBest 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
24/7 Wall St.100 Million Americans Are Missing This Crucial Retirement Tool
The thought of burdening your family with a financial disaster is most Americans’ nightmare. However, recent studies show that over 100 million Americans still don’t have proper life insurance in the event they pass away.
Life insurance can bring peace of mind – ensuring your loved ones are safeguarded against unforeseen expenses and debts. With premiums often lower than expected and a variety of plans tailored to different life stages and health conditions, securing a policy is more accessible than ever.
A quick, no-obligation quote can provide valuable insight into what’s available and what might best suit your family’s needs. Life insurance is a simple step you can take today to help secure peace of mind for your loved ones tomorrow.
Click here to learn how to get a quote in just a few minutes.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Latest from 24/7
