Breaking News English

An increasing number of companies are [announced / announcing] plans to [sever / severe] ties with the USA's National Rifle Association (NRA) [followed / following] the latest high-school shooting massacre. The [tragic / tragedy] at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in South Florida, in which 17 students and staff [lose / lost] their lives, could be a watershed for gun control in the USA. Many high [prolific / profile] companies are calling for gun control and are cutting ties with the [powerful / powerless] NRA lobby group. United Airlines, Delta Airlines and Hertz are [among / between] many companies to end special discounts and [beneficial / benefits] for NRA staff and members. There is also a growing campaign [in / on] social media for greater gun control in the USA.

The NRA made a statement attacking the [fail / failure] of both school and federal systems for the high school tragedy. It said: "The law-abiding members of the NRA had nothing at [whole / all] to do with the failure of that school's security [prepares / preparedness] , the failure of America's mental [health / healthy] system...or the cruel failures of both federal and [locally / local] law enforcement." It added that: "[Despite / Spite] that, some corporations have decided to punish NRA membership [on / in] a shameful display of political and civic [cowardice / cowards] ." An NRA spokesman hit back at the companies, saying: "The [lost / loss] of a discount will neither scare nor distract one single NRA member from our mission to stand and [defend / defense] individual freedoms."