Former NRA President Marion Hammer said, ‘YETI should be ashamed,’ claiming the company declined to do business with the NRA Foundation. YETI just issued a statement to the contrary.
Marion Hammer went viral today with a short but scathing letter, attributed to her and published on NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action website. In it, Hammer derided Austin-based YETI Coolers for “suddenly, and without prior notice,” ending its relationship with the NRA Foundation, a non-profit arm of the NRA that supports 4-H, Boy Scouts, ROTC, and other outdoor activities.
The story erupted on social media. The narrative: YETI, a prominent brand among hunters and gun enthusiasts, was cutting ties with the country’s most prominent gun lobbyist.
But today YETI fired back, saying Hammer’s letter was “inaccurate,” and that “YETI is unwavering in our belief in and commitment to the Constitution of the United States and its Second Amendment.”
YETI, NRA Foundation Controversy
According to Hammer’s letter, YETI had been a partner for the Friends of NRA Foundation Banquet and Auction, which host events around the country. She claimed YETI would no longer support the Foundation with its products.
“YETI has declined to do business with The NRA Foundation saying they no longer wish to be an NRA vendor, and refused to say why,” Hammer wrote. “They will only say they will no longer sell products to The NRA Foundation. That certainly isn’t sportsmanlike. In fact, YETI should be ashamed.”
Hammer concluded her letter with a link to YETI’s Contact Us page. She also seemed to call for a boycott of the brand. “In this day and age, information is power. We thought you needed this information.”
YETI Response
But YETI claims it did not single out the NRA. The brand stated that it had ended its discount program with many entities, including The NRA Foundation.
“A few weeks ago, YETI notified the NRA Foundation, as well as a number of other organizations, that we were eliminating a group of outdated discounting programs,” YETI said in a statement. “When we notified the NRA Foundation and the other organizations of this change, YETI explained that we were offering them an alternative customization program broadly available to consumers and organizations, including the NRA Foundation.”
YETI also shot back at Hammer’s assertion that it “declined to continue helping America’s young people enjoy outdoor recreational activities.”
“Nothing could be further from the truth,” YETI countered. “YETI was founded more than 10 years ago with a passion for the outdoors, and over the course of our history we have actively and enthusiastically supported hunters, anglers and the broader outdoor community. We have been devoted to and will continue to directly support causes tied to our passion for the outdoors, including by working with many organizations that promote conservation and management of wildlife resources and habitat restoration.”
We will continue to monitor the situation and any resolution between YETI and The NRA Foundation.
