Carry Guard Insurance: Attorney Provision?

The NRA's Carry Guard insurance came under fire in 2017 as murder insurance. Gun-control advocates said the new insurance product could foster more violence and give gun owners a false sense of security to shoot first and ask questions later. The NRA isn't the only gun lobbying group offering such insurance. The United States Concealed Carry Association has been in the business much longer and provides up to $2 million in civil costs and $250,000 for criminal defense. But the NRA is the most prominent gun-rights group in the country and it offered similar insurance previously. And Carry Guard is more comprehensive and being marketed more aggressively than it has been previously. It's drawing attention to a type of policy that was relatively obscure until now.

The NRA Carry Guard insurance program was criticised for only covering the use of a firearm, and not other means of self-defence

The NRA's Carry Guard insurance program was criticised for only covering the use of a firearm, and not other means of self-defence. This was one of the reasons why the program was investigated by state regulators in New York, Washington, and California, and was ultimately discontinued in 2019.

The Carry Guard insurance program was launched by the NRA in 2017 and offered policies with up to $150,000 in criminal-defence reimbursement and $1 million in civil liability protection. The program was marketed and distributed by Lockton, the world's largest privately held insurance brokerage, and underwritten by the insurance giant Chubb.

However, the program quickly drew the attention of state regulators due to concerns about the legality of the insurance product. In New York, where insurers are prohibited from providing defence coverage for criminal actions, the Department of Financial Services deemed Carry Guard's offerings improper. State financial regulators also said that the NRA had marketed the program without a license to do so.

Similar concerns were raised in Washington State and California, leading to investigations by insurance regulators in these states as well. As a result of these investigations, Lockton agreed to pay New York $7 million in fines and terminate Carry Guard policies held by New Yorkers. Chubb also decided not to renew its contract to underwrite Carry Guard, and Lockton stated its intention to no longer act as a broker and administrator for the program.

In response to these developments, the NRA made changes to the Carry Guard promotion to ensure that only a licensed broker could sell the policy. The NRA also removed all mentions of insurance from the Carry Guard website, and a representative confirmed that no new policies would be issued through Carry Guard. However, the NRA planned to launch a new insurance product in the future.

The NRA's Carry Guard insurance was marketed as personal firearms liability insurance, including self-defence insurance, for those who lawfully carry firearms and their families

The National Rifle Association (NRA) launched its Carry Guard insurance in 2017. It was marketed as personal firearms liability insurance, including self-defence insurance, for those who lawfully carry firearms and their families. The NRA rolled out Carry Guard at its annual convention in 2017. The multitiered insurance program offered policies with up to $150,000 in criminal-defence reimbursement and $1 million in civil liability protection. The program was marketed and distributed by Lockton, the world's largest privately held insurance brokerage, and underwritten by the insurance giant Chubb.

Carry Guard quickly drew the attention of state regulators. In New York, where insurers are prohibited from providing defence coverage for criminal actions, the Department of Financial Services deemed Carry Guard's offerings improper. State financial regulators also said the NRA had marketed the program without a license to do so. Following the mass shooting in Parkland, Florida, Chubb disclosed that it had decided not to renew its contract to underwrite Carry Guard. Lockton also stated its intention to no longer act as broker and administrator. After two years of state investigations and numerous lawsuits, the NRA has stopped offering its Carry Guard self-defence insurance products.

The NRA Carry Guard insurance was investigated by the New York Department of Financial Services for violating New York insurance law

The NRA Carry Guard insurance program was investigated by the New York Department of Financial Services (DFS) for violating New York insurance law. The NRA was charged with acting as an unlicensed insurance producer and deceiving its members with misleading marketing practices.

The DFS alleged that the NRA, which does not have a license to conduct insurance business in New York, had been endorsing and marketing insurance programs, including "Carry Guard," since 2000. The NRA partnered with Lockton Companies LLC to create the Carry Guard insurance program, which was marketed and sold throughout the United States between April 1, 2017, and November 17, 2017, with about 680 policies unlawfully issued to New York residents.

The Carry Guard program was primarily offered to firearms owners, particularly those with concealed carry permits, to provide insurance coverage that is unlawful in New York State. It offered coverage for losses and costs associated with the aftermath of the purposeful use of a firearm, including defense costs in a criminal prosecution. Under New York law, such intentional acts cannot be insured.

The DFS sought civil monetary penalties and injunctive relief. Lockton Companies LLC agreed to pay a $7 million fine as part of a consent order with the DFS for serving as the administrator of the NRA-branded "Carry Guard" insurance program in violation of New York Insurance Law.

The NRA Carry Guard insurance was investigated by the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance for potential violations of state insurance laws

The NRA Carry Guard insurance program was investigated by the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance for potential violations of state insurance laws. The department was examining Overland Park, Kansas-based Lockton Affinity, LLC, the insurance broker, and Chicago-based Illinois Union, the underwriter, for potential violations related to the marketing and sale of NRA-sponsored insurance.

The investigation was prompted by findings from the New York Department of Financial Services, which had fined Chubb Ltd. and its subsidiary, Illinois Union Insurance Company, $1.3 million for underwriting the NRA-branded Carry Guard insurance program in violation of New York insurance law.

The New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance found that Lockton marketed and sold Carry Guard insurance to New Jersey residents, and that coverage remained in force in the state. The NRA, which is not licensed to sell insurance in New Jersey, actively marketed and solicited for the Carry Guard program through various channels, including websites, emails, and direct mail.

The NRA Carry Guard Insurance Program was advertised as personal firearms liability insurance, including self-defense insurance, for those who lawfully carry firearms and their families. The coverage included protection against civil liability, the cost of defending against civil and criminal legal actions, and immediate access to attorney referrals. Supplementary payments for bail, criminal defense legal retainer fees, and other costs were also advertised as part of the program.

The New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance's investigation focused on potential violations of state insurance laws related to the marketing and sale of the Carry Guard insurance program in the state. The department was examining whether the insurance companies involved complied with the specific requirements mandated by New Jersey law for companies selling insurance to residents within the state.

The investigation into the NRA Carry Guard insurance program by the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance highlighted potential issues with the marketing and sale of the program in the state and the involvement of multiple companies, including the insurance broker and underwriter. The investigation also underscored the importance of compliance with state insurance laws and the potential consequences for violations.

The NRA Carry Guard insurance was criticised for being murder insurance, giving gun owners a false sense of security to shoot first and ask questions later

The NRA's Carry Guard insurance was criticised for being "murder insurance", giving gun owners a false sense of security to "shoot first and ask questions later". The National Rifle Association (NRA) wanted to financially cover gun owners who shoot another person, but critics asked if the product was essentially "murder insurance". Gun-control advocates said the insurance product could foster more violence and give gun owners a false sense of security to shoot first without considering the consequences.

The NRA's insurance was marketed as a form of protection for people who might shoot someone in self-defence. It was sold through big insurance companies like Chubb and Lloyd's, which paid policyholders up to $150,000 in legal fees for criminal-defence cases and up to $1 million in civil-liability protection. The NRA's Carry Guard insurance was also criticised for its aggressive marketing, which played on racial divisions and the idea that "there's a threat around every corner".

The NRA insurance doesn't require policyholders to take any safety or tactical training courses but does encourage them to do so. Initial training courses cost $850 per student for a three-day session.

The NRA ultimately ended the Carry Guard program in 2019 after facing challenges and lawsuits throughout the country.

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