FedEx won’t ditch NRA amid boycotts, and instead, shifts focus to competitor UPS

FedEx will not be adding its name to the list of companies who have ended affiliations with the National Rifle Association in the wake of the deadly Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida.

Amid pressure to stop discounts for NRA members, FedEx announced Monday that it would not be cutting ties with the organization.

What did the company say?

FedEx said that while it strongly supports "the constitutional right of U.S. citizens to own firearms subject to appropriate background checks," it is opposed to "assault rifles being in the hands of civilians."

The company stated that the NRA is one of "hundreds of organizations" affiliated with FedEx's marketing program whose "members receive discounted rates for FedEx shipping," and noted this would not change:

FedEx Corporation’s positions on the issues of gun policy and safety differ from those of the National Rifle Association (NRA).  FedEx opposes assault rifles being in the hands of civilians.  While we strongly support the constitutional right of U.S. citizens to own firearms subject to appropriate background checks, FedEx views assault rifles and large capacity magazines as an inherent potential danger to schools, workplaces, and communities when such weapons are misused.  We therefore support restricting them to the military.  Most important, FedEx believes urgent action is required at the local, state, and Federal level to protect schools and students from incidents such as the horrific tragedy in Florida on February 14^th.

FedEx is a common carrier under Federal law and therefore does not and will not deny service or discriminate against any legal entity regardless of their policy positions or political views.  The NRA is one of hundreds of organizations in our alliances/association Marketing program whose members receive discounted rates for FedEx shipping.  FedEx has never set or changed rates for any of our millions of customers around the world in response to their politics, beliefs or positions on issues.

FedEx on Tuesday added that "the pricing program that is the focus of these concerns is not for the NRA itself — it is for American small businesses and consumers that are members of the association."

The company further noted that it "has never provided any donation or sponsorship to the NRA which is one of hundreds of alliance and association participants that serve more than one million customers.  FedEx remains committed to all our customers and the pricing we provide them independent of their political affiliations and views."

The company went even further with their clarifications on Tuesday, and in a statement to Business Insider, said that the NRA actually utilizes UPS to ship from its online store.

"The NRA uses UPS and not FedEx," the statement to Business Insider read.

What has the NRA said about losing business partners?

The NRA on Saturday released a statement responding to those companies who cut ties with them over the Florida shooting.

The statement castigated those corporations, and called their actions a "shameful display of political and civic cowardice."

Another portion of the statement added, "In time, these brands will be replaced by others who recognize that patriotism and determined commitment to Constitutional freedoms are characteristics of a marketplace they very much want to serve."

NEW: The National Rifle Association responds to the growing number of companies ending their corporate partnerships since the Parkland school shooting: "Some corporations have decided to punish NRA membership in a shameful display of political and civic cowardice." pic.twitter.com/Wnabe0GFea

— ABC News (@ABC) February 24, 2018