Many companies are announcing plans to cut ties with the USA's National Rifle Association (NRA) after the high-school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in South Florida. That tragedy saw 17 students and staff lose their lives. Many high profile companies, like United Airlines, Delta Airlines and Hertz, are cutting ties with the powerful NRA lobby group. They will end special discounts and benefits for NRA members. This could be a watershed for gun control in the USA. There is also a growing campaign on social media for greater change in the USA regarding guns.
The NRA attacked the failure of both school and federal systems for the high school tragedy. It stated: "The law-abiding members of the NRA had nothing at all to do with the failure of that school's security preparedness, the failure of America's mental health system...or the cruel failures of...law enforcement." It added that: "Some corporations have decided to punish NRA membership in a shameful display of...cowardice." The NRA said: "The loss of a discount will neither scare nor distract one single NRA member from our mission to stand and defend individual freedoms."