AUSTIN, TX — A war of words has erupted between Yeti and the National Rifle Association after the Austin-based maker of high-end coolers and thermal mugs cut its ties as an official vendor for the gun rights advocacy organization.

According to reports, the NRA sent an email to its members over the weekend alerting that Yeti had "suddenly, without prior notice" severed its ties with the NRA Foundation. "That certainly isn't sportsmanlike," the email read. "In fact, Yeti should be ashamed. They have declined to continue helping America's young people enjoy outdoor recreational activities. These activities enable them to appreciate America and enjoy our natural resources with wholesome and healthy outdoor recreational and educational programs." That message to members has led to a strong reaction among the NRA faithful, many reportedly now destroying or simply disposing of their Yeti products in protest of the company's severing its ties with the gun rights organization. Some NRA members have expressed their umbrage publicly, vowing never to purchase Yeti products again given their inferred support of stricter gun laws. Hunters comprise a sizable part of the Yeti customer base.

"I'm starting to save a lot of money on overpriced garbage," one NRA supporter wrote on Twitter, pejoratively referencing Yeti's line of pricey products. But he doesn't limit his tirade to just Yeti: "No more Strarbucks, no more Yeti, no more Nestle, no more Hulu. No More Nordstrom. No More Target, etc. Thanks for letting me know where your company's [sic] stand so I can buy from other companies that support our freedom!" I'm starting to save a lot of money on overpriced garbage. No more Starbucks, no more YETI, no more Nestle, no more HULU. No more Nordstrom. No more Target. Etc... Thanks for letting me know where your company's stand so I can buy from other companies that support our freedoms!

— Educating Liberals (@Education4Libs) April 23, 2018 Amid the backlash are videos of gun rights supporters destroying their Yeti products.

At least one competitor has seized on the controversy for potential profit. Pelican Coolers officials have vowed to donate $10 to the NRA for each of its products sold in the wake of Yeti's action, throwing in a complimentary tumbler as added incentive.

Yeti joins a long list of companies (Delta Air Lines and Enterprise Rent-A-Car among others) that have distanced themselves from the NRA following the Feb. 14 mass shooting in a Florida high school that left 17 dead. Despite the horrific nature of the latest school shooting, the NRA has been unbending in its opposition to legislation that would impose stricter gun controls.



Yeti officials have fired back, saying their cutting of ties with the NRA and their support of the 2nd Amendment are not mutually exclusive ideas. They also disputed the NRA's assertion that the relationship was halted without advance notice.

"A few weeks ago, Yeti notified the NRA Foundation, as well as a number of other organizations, that we were eliminating a group of outdated discounting programs," Yeti officials said in a prepared statement Monday afternoon. "When we notified the NRA Foundation and the other organizations about this change, Yeti explained that we were offering them an alternative customization program broadly available to consumers and organizations, including the NRA Foundation. These facts directly contradict the inaccurate statement the (NRA) distributed on April 20."

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— YETI (@YETICoolers) April 23, 2018 Yeti officials also disputed the notion they were somehow jeopardizing young people's enjoyment of the great outdoors in taking their anti-NRA stance: "Further, the (NRA) stated in that same public communication that '[Yeti has] declined to continue helping America's young people enjoy outdoor recreational activities.' Nothing is further from the truth. Yeti was founded more than 10 years ago with a passion for the outdoors, and over the course of our history we have actively and enthusiastically supported hunters, anglers and the broader outdoor community. We have been devoted to and will continue to directly support causes tied to our passion for the outdoors, including by working with many organizations that promote conservation and management of wildlife resources and habitat restoration. From our website to our film footage and from our social media posts to our ambassadors, Yeti has always prominently featured hunters pursuing their passions. Moreover, Yeti is unwavering in our belief in and commitment to the Constitution of the United States and its Second Amendment."

Not everybody is upset with Yeti following its move against the NRA. Texas Gun Sense, a statewide nonprofit and nonpartisan organization advocating for common-sense, evidence-based policies to reduce gun injuries and deaths, issued a statement praising Yeti for their move.