L.A. City Councilman Mitch O'Farrell is demanding that area businesses disclose any business dealings they have with the NRA.
O’Farrell put forth a proposal asking city staffers to provide a list of all businesses and groups that have a "formal relationship" with the NRA.
That way L.A. could have it’s own, business-focused McCarthyism. I can hear the council meetings of the future, “Have you now, or ever had a formal relationship with the NRA?”
According to the LA Times, the list needs to be delivered so O’Farrell can lay out options for having the city boycott these businesses.
"It's important that we send a message as a city with an annual budget approaching $9 billion," O'Farrell said, invoking mass shootings in Newtown, Conn.; Orlando, Fla.; Las Vegas; and Parkland, Fla.; as well as gun violence that happens regularly across the country.
"It's time to speak with one voice and call attention to the assault weapon epidemic," the councilman said.
NRA members have had nothing to do with the school shootings O’Farrell mentioned, but business deals are already being slowed down in L.A. because of the councilman’s efforts.
From the LA Times:
O'Farrell said he also had asked the City Council to hold off on approving an agreement between FedEx and the Harbor Department to operate a warehouse and office space. FedEx has faced pressure from gun control advocates to stop providing discounted shipping for members of the NRA.
'We have a choice — and they have a choice,' O'Farrell said, arguing that FedEx could follow the path of other companies such as Delta Air Lines that have ended such discounts or other ties. 'They could join in this sensible movement to discourage the proliferation of guns.'
The council postponed voting on the FedEx agreement last week. City officials say the deal could generate up to $155,000 for the port.
They’ll take the matter up again April 11th.
Perhaps by then city staffers will have delivered O'Farrell his list of those that have a "formal relationship" with a legal organization.