It’s already been a tough autumn for the National Rifle Association. After September’s Las Vegas shooting at a country music festival, the NRA was again under fire as the nation called for tighter gun control laws.
While those cries were just that — cries — there was legislation attempted to ban bump stocks, which are devices that can make most basic guns fire like automatic weapons when operated by individuals familiar with a specific firing technique. The devices are seen as a major reason why the Las Vegas shooting was as deadly as it was. However, the bill has barely budged in the gridlocked Congress.
In other news, the NRA has introduced its insurance provision. Under this plan, it’s the person doing the shooting, not the person who was shot, who would be covered.
The NRA isn’t the first to do this. The United States Concealed Carry Association has, for several years now, covered a criminal defense ($250,000) and civil costs ($2 million) in a shooting incident.
The plan has made the NRA an even bigger target, with critics even likening the insurance provision to “murder insurance.” That’s how gun control organization Guns Down sees it.
The biggest judgment of the insurance provision as it stands is that it may lead gun users to fire their weapons more freely. Now that they’ll be covered under insurance, the penalties can be dealt with later, according to the opposition.
In reality, the NRA has been pushing for this insurance, called the Carry Guard insurance, for more than a year now. This insurance provision isn’t a result of the Las Vegas shooting, then, but merely a coincidence.
Like many insurance plans, there are tiered membership levels. Those who don’t want to pay too much can opt for monthly plans starting at $13.95. Under that plan, members get criminal defense coverage ($50,000) and civil protection coverage ($250,000).
The gold policy starts at $50, but those who pay for it will receive criminal defense coverage valued at $250,000 and civil protection at $1.5 million.
Underwriting company Chubb and administrator Lockton Affinity oversee the NRA’s insurance provision. They have been receiving heat from Guns Down to rescind their involvement with the Carry Guard insurance, but that has yet to happen. Although Chubb or Lockton Affinity have not made public statements about their decision to support the NRA’s insurance provisions, they don’t necessarily have to.
Of course, the NRA urges those who want to learn more about guns to enroll in a class, which lasts for three days and is priced at $850.
Dana Loesch appeared at the annual NRA meeting to discuss the Carry Guard insurance. According to Loesch, when a person with the insurance does fire a gun and someone is shot, they should first contact police and then their insurance provider. Loesch also urges gun owners to reach their attorney before making an official statement with police.
University of Connecticut School of Law insurance analyst Peter Kochenburger stated that the NRA’s “insurance might benefit society…because it could compel the industry to research ways to make gun ownership and storage safer or by providing discounts to gun owners who take safety courses.”
~ Firearm Daily
