Tell the IRS: Investigate the National Rifle Association (NRA) for misappropriation of nonprofit funds.
Dear MoveOn member,
In the last few weeks, the tragic news of mass shootings across the country has gripped the nation. From the loss of Black lives in Buffalo to the loss of 19 students and two teachers in Uvalde, Texas, to even more shootings and deaths that have occurred in the past few days, we’ve been left in a constant state of grief regarding the senseless gun violence in the U.S.1
There have been countless claims, for years now, around the NRA and how the organization handles its nonprofit assets.2 In 2020, the NRA admitted in a tax filing that some of the nonprofit’s money had been used for personal benefit, despite years of the NRA denying financial oversight.3 New York Attorney General Letitia James filed to dissolve the NRA due to misappropriation of nonprofit funds, and while the judge involved in that case rejected the effort to put the NRA out of business, there’s still substantial evidence that an investigation into how it spends its funds is needed.4
Gun violence prevention bills, such as H.R.8 and H.R.1446, have passed in the House but stalled in the Senate.5 This is, in large part, due to the NRA investing millions of dollars to influence lawmakers, especially Republicans who use every tool to block votes on popular, commonsense bills.6 The NRA's nonprofit status allows it to increase profits for the gun industry, at the expense of all of our lives. The mounting evidence against the NRA's spending is astounding, and it only increases every year.7
It’s time we take action, because thoughts and prayers alone will not protect us. The government works for the people, and the IRS needs to take action to protect the most vulnerable in our society by investigating the NRA's nonprofit spending for misappropriation of funds.
In the days leading up to the NRA convention in Texas, more than 300,000 MoveOn members signed a petition to cancel it.8 When the NRA decided to move forward with the convention, just days after the school shooting in Uvalde, thousands of people protested outside.9 We weren’t able to stop the convention, but we know now—more than ever—just how powerful we are when we come together. And we’ve still got work to do to hold people in power and organizations accountable for our safety.
Thanks for all you do.
–Nakia, Justin, Mana, Casey, and the rest of the team
Sources:
1. "2 mass shootings — 1,700 miles apart but bound by startling similarities," NPR, May 27, 2022
https://act.moveon.org/go/163094?t=20&akid=324794%2E40999114%2EZOyfCG
2. "Former Top NRA Exec Says Greed, Corruption Pushed Gun Group Into 'Death Spiral,'" NPR, September 4, 2020
https://act.moveon.org/go/163103?t=22&akid=324794%2E40999114%2EZOyfCG
3. "NRA admits some executives used nonprofit money for personal benefit," The Hill, November 25, 2020
https://act.moveon.org/go/163104?t=24&akid=324794%2E40999114%2EZOyfCG
4. "Judge blocks New York's bid to close NRA," Reuters, March 2, 2022
https://act.moveon.org/go/163105?t=26&akid=324794%2E40999114%2EZOyfCG
5. "What are HR 8 and HR 1446? Gun control bills still await Senate votes after Texas shooting," USA Today, May 26, 2022
https://act.moveon.org/go/163095?t=28&akid=324794%2E40999114%2EZOyfCG
6. "The National Rifle Association’s lobbying machine is still potent despite financial woes that reduced its clout," CNBC, May 27, 2022
https://act.moveon.org/go/163096?t=30&akid=324794%2E40999114%2EZOyfCG
7. "The NRA, a Tax-Exempt Loaded with Private Interest," The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, accessed May 28, 2022
https://act.moveon.org/go/163097?t=32&akid=324794%2E40999114%2EZOyfCG
8. "Petition to Cancel NRA Convention Over Uvalde Shooting Tops 270K Signatures," Newsweek, May 27, 2022
https://act.moveon.org/go/163100?t=34&akid=324794%2E40999114%2EZOyfCG
9. "Thousands protest outside NRA convention in Texas days after massacre in Uvalde," Los Angeles Times, May 27, 2022
https://act.moveon.org/go/163099?t=36&akid=324794%2E40999114%2EZOyfCG
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