KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -
Several large metro companies are in the middle of a political mine field.
Businesses like Sprint and Blue Cross Blue Shield-Kansas City are considered enemies of the National Rifle Association.
Even the Kansas City Royals and Kansas City Chiefs are two of only three professional teams on the NRAs list of organizations with anti-gun policies. Many companies contacted say this list came as a big surprise.
According to the NRA, it includes "the most prominent national corporations that have lent their corporate support to gun control initiatives or taken position supporting gun control."
Sprint Corporation, whose world headquarters are located in Overland Park, released the following statement:
"Fourteen years ago, Missouri voters considered a ballot measure that would have allowed people to carry concealed weapons. When this measure was proposed, Sprint joined with other companies in the Missouri business community to urge voters to reject this measure, which they did. Sprint has not participated in the legislative gun debate since that time."
A spokesperson for Blue Cross Blue Shield was also surprised by the news. They are listed along with the company's president, but again a problem - the president listed has not been with the company since 2001.
"The company does not have a stand on gun control. We are completely neutral on it," the spokesperson said.
Many companies did not want to respond to the fact they made the "anti-gun" list.
The Kansas City Chiefs spokesperson said "no comment."
The Kansas City Royals, American Century Investments, Argosy Casino, AMC Theaters, James B. Nutter Company and Sprint Corporation did not return KCTV5's calls for comment.
KCTV5 also called the NRA for comment, but they never returned calls.
Of the 41 corporations listed, 23 are based in Missouri. California is a distant second with five companies on the list.
Here is a breakdown of states with the most companies on the NRA's list of organizations with anti-gun policies:
Missouri - 22 companies
- Kansas City area - 9 companies
- St. Louis - 10 companies
- Chesterfield, MO
- Branson, MO
- Maryland Heights, MO
Kansas - one company
California - five companies
New York - four companies
Louisiana - one company
Maryland - two companies
Illinois - two companies
Texas - one company
New Hampshire - one company
Vermont - one company
Virginia - one company
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