The National Rifle Association, who is the main pro-gun laws organization in the U.S., has recently responded to actions taken by the New York Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo through a complaint. According to the New York Law Journal, the NRA is accusing Cuomo and other New York officials of having threatened entities that have ties with the NRA. They reportedly were pushing for them to loosen their relationship with the Association and warned that keeping said relations could result in sanctions.
Several New York federal institutions warned insurance companies that they could potentially face legal struggles and damages in their reputation if they didn’t end their relationship with the organization. It is yet to be decided whether the complaint presented by the NRA is a reliable record for Cuomo’s actions, as they could be exaggerating them for the convenience of their case.
However, the complaint itself does explain why the reported measures could hurt the NRA, as the organization usually describes itself as a “not-for-profit” entity. According to them, these NY officials could “imminently deprive the NRA of basic bank-depository services, corporate insurance coverage, and other financial services essential to the NRA’s corporate existence and its advocacy mission.”
The organization’s annual set of actions, whether they regard making a convention or maintaining their website, require for funds that they can only get from donations. These are less likely to be offered to them if financial reprehension were to be the consequence, and therefore the NRA’s existence would be threatened. The complaint further states:
The NRA has encountered serious difficulties obtaining corporate insurance coverage to replace coverage withdrawn by the Corporate Carrier. Nearly every carrier has indicated that it fears transacting with the NRA specifically in light of [Department of Financial Services’s] actions.”
In the complaint, the NRA hypothesizes that these actions were done in pressure of pro gun-control group Everytown for Gun Safety, which is funded and supported by former mayor Michael Bloomberg.
