Since the conception of the #NeverAgain movement by Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students after the atrocious shooting on Feb. 14, many have been fighting to boycott the National Rifle Association.
The Never Again movement has been working toward common sense gun reforms in the United States to prevent school shootings like the one in Parkland. In response to the Parkland shooting and the movement created as a result, many companies and individuals began to boycott the NRA, pressured by the trending hashtag “#NRAboycott” on Twitter.
“I didn’t know how far reaching the NRA was until this,” Never Again movement leader Emma Gonzalez said. “It is so important that we recognize that the NRA have too much influence over our society and politicians. If we are going to change the gun culture in America, we are going to have to take away some of that power.”
Members of the NRA can get a variety of discounts and benefits with many banking, airline, insurance and car rental companies. Since the Parkland shooting, many of these companies, including Delta, Hertz and United Airlines have been severing ties with the NRA and ending these discounts for NRA members in their companies.
Gun dealers such as Walmart and Dick’s Sporting Goods, one of the largest sports stores in the country have promised to stop selling guns to customers under the age of 21. Furthermore, Dick’s Sports Goods has decided to eliminate sales of military-style semi-automatic rifles.
“We have tremendous respect and admiration for the students organizing and making their voices heard regarding gun violence in schools and elsewhere in our country,” the company said in a statement released on Wednesday Feb. 28. “We have heard you… we have to solve the problem that’s in front of us. Gun violence is an epidemic.”
They then called for legislative action against gun violence, with specific appeals for change, including the banning of assault-style guns, high-capacity magazines and gun accessories such as bump stocks.
This is a promising start for many of those involved in the Never Again movement and those pushing for legislative changes in hopes of reducing gun violence.
“It tells us that we are being listened to,” Gonzalez said. “People keep asking how this is different. Open your eyes: this has never happened before in relation to gun control. If they are proving themselves to be capable to listen to the people who really line their pockets, change is really possible.”
Nevertheless, this is only a start to what the movement is hoping to accomplish in regard to taking away the NRA’s power in this country.
John Burgess • Mar 25, 2018 at 9:52 pm
I have been following the wave of efforts by young people across America in their demands for better gun control with admiration. The guest editorship of the Guardian by the students running The Eagle Eye was inspirational, as are the increasingly influential initiatives promoted by Never Again. You are truly showing the ignorant ‘Old Guard’ that guns have no place in civil society. I am from the UK and draw parallels between Never Again and Addiopizzo, an anti-mafia movement set up in Sicily. Many businesses there display the logo of Addiopizzo to show their support and citizens can decide where to spend their money, its proving very effective! Perhaps something similar would be appropriate for Never Again? I wish you well in your campaign, gun owners have no right to make children feel scared and insecure at school.
Dr. Steve Oehmen • Mar 23, 2018 at 1:43 am
Fight the NRA if you wish, but I believe the effective fight would be with the retail banks. They are financing the purchase of military-grade weapons and accessories. It is within their purview – wholly – to determine to whom and for what they are willing to extend credit. These weapons are frequently -but not always – purchased via credit. Young people in particular do not readily have $1,000.00+ necessary to buy this stuff for cash. A few hundred young people showing up at a bank, cutting up their credit cards with TV there, WILL change some behavior, I assure you. Think about it!