Why are brady campaign donations tax-deductible...

[xsquidgator]

... and donations to the NRA-ILA are not? I got on the brady bunch's email list after the VT shootings last spring and each of their emails requesting $ says that donations are tax-deductible. WTH? What makes them different in the eyes of the government from when I donate to the NRA (I made it a point to donate to the NRA-ILA the day of the VT shootings, anticipating a surge in activity from the antis, and every time I donate they remind me it's not tax-deductible.)

I know life ain't fair but is there any reasonable explanation for this?

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

The part of Brady that you donated to is a 501(c)(3) educational organization which means the donation is tax exempt. This isn't (or at least shouldn't be) the same organization that lobbies Congress, though they may be controlled by the same people.

If you want to make a tax exempt deduction to the NRA, you just need to make it to the NRA's 501(c)(3) which I believe is called The NRA Foundation. Remember though that 501(c)(3) groups have limits on what they can spend money on. If you want the NRA fighting for your rights in Congress, then you need to donate to the NRA-ILA. If you want them getting pro-gun Congressmen elected, then the NRA-PVF. If you want them to pursue litigation, the NRA Civil Defense Fund. Finally, if you want them to build ranges, teach gun safety and gun classes, that is the regular old NRA that most of us joined.

During the 1990s, the NRA was audited by the IRS on a pretty much continual basis thanks to a hostile administration. Meanwhile, organizations like the Million Mom March openly violated those regulations and got away with it. Eventually the MMM got too brazen though and got caught with their hand in the cookie jar (and our own Jim March was a big player in that). You can read the story over at TFL (circa 1999-2000). With a new administration coming to power, the original MMM basically allowed themselves to be assimilated into the Brady Campaign rather than face the music.

 

[xsquidgator]

Thanks for the info, I knew barely any of that. It ticks me off that they get the wand waved and they're somehow thus "educational" putting out their tripe, and the NRA gets the treatment you describe.

For what it's worth, I most definitely never have and never will donate to the brady campaign. I simply registered on their site to receive emails, kind of along the lines of "keep your friends close and your enemies closer". I've toyed with the petty idea of trying to donate $0.01 at a time to cause them a net loss on each transaction, although I've never got past the thinking about it stage.

 

[highorder]

I simply registered on their site to receive emails, kind of along the lines of "keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

+1

 

[mekender]

arent donations to the CMP tax deductible?

i know you can specify that your united way donations go to the CMP

http://www.odcmp.com/faqs.htm

 

[1911 guy]

The real reason they are tax exempt is because the Brady Bunch just lies about where the money goes and does what they damn well please. They use the loophole to cover the lie.

Organizations that try to be above board are at a disadvantage, because the money must be tightly controlled.

 

[MakAttak]

The real reason they are tax exempt is because the Brady Bunch just lies about where the money goes and does what they damn well please. They use the loophole to cover the lie.

Organizations that try to be above board are at a disadvantage, because the money must be tightly controlled.

It helps when the government makes laws and then refuses to enforce them except against their political enemies... look to the Million Mom March from the 90's...

Also, if charges were brought against the Brady Campaign, can you imagine the press reports about "political persecution" even if the charges were proved to be true?