One of the most influential lobby groups in the entire country is losing its grip on some of America’s best-known brands thanks to its misguided belief that the second amendment was intended to include AR-15s and other assault rifles.

It wasn’t.

Customers have spoken with their pocketbooks. No longer will they support brands that do business with the NRA. As a result, the five-million-strong who belong to the gun lobby has lost out on significant discounts across many different products and services.

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The NRA, in its ornery way, has responded to the defectors with typical fire and brimstone language.

“[It is] a shameful display of political and civic cowardice,” the NRA said in a statement. “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.”

Not every brand has abandoned the NRA, mind you. FedEx Corporation (NYSE:FDX) remains a part of the discount program because it’s never set or changed rates as a result of its customers’ beliefs despite the fact it is very much opposed to the NRA’s position.

While I understand the position taken by FedEx, which is no position, I can’t help but think they are missing the boat on a critical issue.

For this reason, despite having some business deficiencies, I recommend these seven stocks to buy for having the decency to ditch the NRA. Listening to your customers is the best way to keep them as customers.

Bravo!





Hot Stocks That Ditched the NRA: First National Bank of Omaha

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Okay, I’m cheating here — First National Bank of Omaha isn’t a publicly traded company, but I wish it were. Because not only does it have the backbone to stand up to the schoolyard bully, it’s one of the best-run banks in America.

First National announced Feb. 22 that it would not extend the contract to issue NRA credit cards to the gun lobby’s members who get a $40 credit when taking out a new card. Customers spoke. First National listened.

And before you suggest it’s a meaningless move from an insignificant bank, think again. First National is the 15th largest credit card issuer in the nation with more than $20 billion in assets and the nation’s largest privately-owned bank.

First National is one of those “smaller” banks that punches above its weight. It’s also worth noting that another famous Omaha resident, Warren Buffett, is less of a fan of the NRA boycott.

“I don’t believe in imposing my views on 370,000 employees and a million shareholders,” Buffett told CNBC. “I’m not their nanny on that.”

I get where he’s coming from, and while I will always recommend Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK.A, BRK.B) to readers even after he’s gone, the Oracle’s become more of a “do as I say, not as I do” personality in recent years.

I commend the bank for doing what it thinks is right. It would definitely be one of my stocks to buy were it a public company.





Hot Stocks That Ditched the NRA: Chubb (CB)

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The NRA will argue that the decision made by Chubb Ltd. (NYSE:CB) three months ago to stop offering NRA Carry Guard — which provides insurance coverage for legal and other costs incurred in civil and criminal trials as a result of self-defense shootings — was strictly business.

Maybe that’s true, but if there were any second thoughts on the part of the insurance company, the Florida shooting eliminated any reservations it might have had about ending the relationship.

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