Why I Support Travel Companies Speaking Out Against the NRA

Ever since my parents put me on a bus to Washington, D.C. in 1972 when I was 14 years old to march in protest against the Vietnam War, I’ve been inspired by using the democratic process to change government policies with which I don’t agree. At the time my parents had told me, “If you don’t agree with the policies of Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger, then you should do something about it.” That was just the beginning of my foray into political and social activism; since then I have become involved in fundraising efforts with local politics, Senatorial Campaign Committees and Presidential Campaigns. I am also very proud to be on the Board of the Children’s Health Fund, which is committed to providing high quality health care for all of America’s children.

For me, the best thing about living in a democracy is that everyone has the power to effect positive change. Whether you are a high-school student or a CEO, you can become involved in both your local and national community. I’ve said before--and still believe--that one of the best ways to become involved is to be open-minded, to educate yourself and to vote. But the situation becomes a bit more complicated when you aren’t old enough to vote. 

When I was 14, I was concerned about the possibility of being drafted for a war I did not believe in, and so I protested. There were many young people of my generation who also felt frustrated, powerless and angry, and there were many protests across the country. I think something similar is happening right now in response to the February 14 school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. When you find your life is at stake that’s when you rise up and protest. Neither Congress nor the adults in the room have succeeded in passing meaningful gun legislation. And, like the 3,000 nationwide schools participating in National Walkout Day to mark one month since the shootings, the younger generation is taking the lead in speaking out. 

Following last month’s school shooting that killed 17 people, a number of students have become outspoken activists for gun control, speaking out at rallies, on news programs and to news outlets, and even meeting with President Trump. In an op-ed for Harper’s Bazaar, Parkland student Emma González stated, “We are tired of practicing school shooter drills and feeling scared of something we should never have to think about. We are tired of being ignored. So we are speaking up for those who don’t have anyone listening to them…” Gonzalez is also one of the organizers of March For Our Lives, a protest rally on March 24 that aims, without political agenda, to get legislation addressing gun violence passed.

Gonzalez is only one of many voices of protest, and, somewhat unusually, some of these voices are coming from corporations. In my industry, a number of companies, to their credit, have chosen to end discount programs for the National Rifle Association (NRA), including: Delta Air Lines and United Airlines; car rentals groups Avis, Budget, Enterprise and National Alamo; and hotel companies Wyndham and Best Western.

This is a big deal for multiple reasons. To begin with, it’s a risk to these companies’ reputations, because people who perhaps work for or buy these services may disagree with these actions and take their business and/or employment elsewhere. Certainly, there has been a lot of conversation and coverage regarding these decisions. Delta, for example, issued a press release on February 24, stating that the “decision reflects the airline’s neutral status in the current national debate over gun control amid recent school shootings.” In a letter to employees, Delta CEO Ed Bastian also noted, “Our discounted travel benefit for NRA members could be seen as Delta implicitly endorsing the NRA. That is not the case.” He also acknowledged the “emotional” state of the gun control debate, and thanked employees for their professionalism and for assisting customers with comments and questions.

Almost immediately, Delta came under attack in the state where the airline is based-Georgia. On February 26, Georgia Lt Gov. Casey Cagle tweeted: “I will kill any tax legislation that benefits @Delta unless the company changes its position and fully reinstates its relationship with @NRA. Corporation cannot attack conservatives and expect us not to fight back.” Then, on March 1, Georgia lawmakers voted in favor of a tax bill that had been amended to strip out a provision that would have made Delta the prime recipient of a large tax break. A few days later, Florida lawmakers killed a similar state proposal that would have provided tax breaks on jet fuel, although they stated the decision was unrelated to Delta’s decision regarding NRA discounts. As of this writing, Delta, along with the other aforementioned travel companies, have not reinstated the NRA’s discounts.

As the CEO of a $1.1 billion travel management company, Ovation Travel Group, I wholeheartedly support the decision of these companies to end discounts with the NRA. I believe corporations have an obligation to be a part of and to participate in public discourse. They need to pay attention to the cultural zeitgeist, which is currently moving in the direction of sensible gun control. I also believe in the concept of the activist CEO: your constituents are not only your shareholders, and not only your employees, but also your community, and it’s essential to stand up for the values of your community.

For me, this is first and foremost about the safety of children and the community at large; I believe it’s possible to advocate for sensible gun ownership without taking away guns or gun culture. As Emma González noted, “At the end of the day, we don’t want people to have their guns taken away. We just want the people to be more responsible.”

At the close of her op-ed, she calls on people to “Register to vote. Actually show up to the polls.” I agree and would add that there are many other ways that a person, a CEO and a corporation can be responsible citizens and make their voices heard, such as the thousands participating in the National School Walkout protests happening across the country. The important part is to be open-minded, to educate yourself and to effect positive change however you can.