Companies Dumping Their NRA Links (UPDATED)

After years and years of mounting mass shootings with semi-automatic assault rifles, the National Rifle Rampage Association remains defiant and opposed to any meaningful gun control legislation that would affect gun sales. Listening to the NRA's chief weapons salesman and bloody lunatic Wayne "Bad Guy With A Gun" La Pierre yesterday at the CPAC wingnut wingding, after his name checking of Saul Alinsky, Michael Bloomberg, George Soros, Hollywood "elites" (what, no International Jewish Conspiracy?), etc. etc., one was reminded of the unhinged Howard Beale character in the movie "Network." The faux outrage, the web of crazy conspiracies, the fictional multitude of "enemies" undermining every right under the Constitution. All that was needed for the flailing La Pierre was a dirty trench coat and a tin foil hat.

Fortunately, some companies are sensing the movement of public opinion away from absolutist crazies like La Pierre and his NRA. In the past, an NRA membership would get you discounts on car rentals, insurance, and other services, much like a membership in AAA and AARP. That's changing. Three car rental companies -- National, Enterprise, and Alamo -- have dropped their affiliation, as well as a major bank card company, First National Bank of Omaha. But there are still companies affiliated with the NRA's membership program, as this graphic demonstrates (click to enlarge):

Diana Ofosu, Think Progress

Mounting pressure needs to be brought on the remaining companies to distance themselves from the gun manufacturers' lobby. The NRA has become a toxic brand, and companies as well as politicians need to beware of associating with them.

UPDATE:  MetLife, Chubb, Symantec and SimpliSafe just bailed.  If you want to sign DailyKos' petition, go here.

UPDATE II:  Here's the latest graphic for comparison --



(photo: La Pierre on covers of the NY Daily News and NY Post after the Sandy Hook massacres)