A City Councilman proposed Wednesday that Los Angeles institute an economic boycott of any businesses and organizations that have a formal relationship with the National Rifle Association.
In his motion, Councilman Mitch O’Farrell cited a recent report from Everytown for Gun Safety that says there have been 156 mass shootings from 2009 to 2016, and those statistics do not include the recent mass shootings in Las Vegas and Parkland, Florida.
“The National Rifle Association is the most influential lobbying organization in the United States, effectively hindering adoption of any common sense gun safety laws at every level of government,” according to the motion.
O’Farrell argues in the motion that the NRA has spent around $200 million on political activities since 1998 through 2017, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
The motion adds, “The city of Los Angeles has historically enacted ordinances and adopted positions that promote gun safety and gun safety legislation,” and given the opposing stance of the NRA, “the city should move to rid itself of its relationships with any organization that supports the NRA.”
The motion would direct city staff to report back with a list of all businesses and organizations that have formal relationship with the NRA and options for the city to boycott those businesses and organization until the relationship ends.
The NRA did not immediately respond to a request to comment.
Since a mass shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, left 17 people dead on Feb. 14, some organizations have cut ties with the NRA, including Delta Air Lines.