Sheriff sticks to his guns
Butler County Sheriff Mike Slupe has ordered his deputies not to patronize airlines, hotels and rental agencies that have announced a boycott or cut ties with the National Rifle Association.
“Though I cannot dictate which companies you utilize in your personal life, I can and am going to dictate which companies the Butler County Sheriff's Office will not use,” says Slupe's order, which was issued April 3.
One duty of the sheriff's office is to extradite people who are wanted in Butler County and are apprehended by law enforcement in other parts of Pennsylvania or other parts of the country.
In his written order Slupe listed Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, the Wyndham Group of Hotels, Enterprise Holdings, Avis Car Rental and Hertz Rent a Car as companies that the deputies may not patronize while making travel arrangements.
An exception will be made if a hotel is independently owned.
Slupe, in an interview Thursday, said he is not a current member of the NRA, but believes they have strong educational and safety programs and are not responsible for gun violence in the United States.
“It's not about bad-mouthing anybody. It's not about calling for a large boycott. I don't agree with their choice and I believe that I have a right to make a choice in this case,” he said.
As the national debate about guns and school shootings heated up following the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., many officials and companies criticized the NRA.
The NRA on its website calls itself the “premier firearms education organization” in the world.
“From training the next generation of gun owners to leading legislative and political efforts to defend the Second Amendment the NRA is at the forefront of preserving your freedom,” it says.
Delta, wanting to remain neutral in the gun control debate, announced an end to its NRA discount and asked the association to remove its information from its website in February.
“Out of respect for our customers and employees on both sides, Delta has taken this action to refrain from entering this debate and focus on its business. Delta continues to support the 2nd Amendment,” a news release said.
The other companies Slupe named, Wyndham, which owns the Days Inn, Super 8, Ramada, Howard Johnson and TraveLodge brands; Enterprise Holdings, which owns the Enterprise, Alamo and National brands; Avis; Hertz; and United Airlines, all ended their NRA member discounts over the last two months.
The different sides of the debate have fought on social media, with some calling for a boycott of the NRA and associated businesses, including Amazon, Apple and FedEx.
Some NRA supporters have called for a boycott of the companies that have distanced themselves from the association by ending discounts.
Since word of his order has spread in recent days, Slupe has started to get attention from people and media organizations from around the country.
He was interviewed Thursday by Cam Edwards, host of “Cam & Co.” on NRATV, the NRA's television network. He said he received a voice mail from a woman in Rhode Island who said “Bravo.”
One person called, Slupe said, to ask if his office is obligated to take the “low bidder” for government purchases. There is no such law in Pennsylvania for bills of less than $18,000, he said.
Slupe added that he still asks his deputies to be responsible with expenses.
“We look for the best price,” he said.
