ICM Partners Reportedly Drops FedEx Over NRA Deal

Update: FedEx sent Pollstar the following statement related to its ties to the NRA.

“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 14th.

“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.”

The statement has also been updated to include clarifications that FedEx handles shipping for small businesses and consumers that are members of the NRA, not for the association’s online store, and that FedEx has never donated to or sponsored the NRA.

Original story:

ICM Partners has reportedly cut its business ties with FedEx due to the company’s shipping discounts related to guns.

– ICM Partners

Actress Piper Perabo tweeted March 1 that ICM “stopped using” FedEx because FedEx gives discounts to the NRA.

Screenwriter Jeffrey Lieber tweeted later that day that CAA Foundation had told him “Our company is already into this.”

Lieber explained his main concern was the profits handed to the NRA through discounts to gun manufacturers and sellers.

Hertz, Delta, United Airlines and other companies have all reportedly axed similar deals with the NRA because of political pressure after the February shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, but FedEx has reportedly not budged.

Pollstar reached out to ICM Partners, CAA and FedEx for this story.