IRS Instructionshttp://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i990-ez.pdf
(from 2001)
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i990sa.pdf
(Schedule A instructions, 2001)
| Line 81 |
Line 81—Expenditures for political purposes
Political organizations described in section 527 are not required to answer
this question. A political expenditure is one intended to influence the
selection, nomination, election, or appointment of anyone to a Federal,
state, or local public office, or office in a political organization, or
the election of Presidential or Vice Presidential electors. It does not
matter whether the attempt succeeds. An expenditure includes a payment,
distribution, loan, advance, deposit, or gift of money, or anything of
value. It also includes a contract, promise, or agreement to make an expenditure,
whether or not legally enforceable.
[I do not believe that the MMM made any financial
contributions to any political campaign. There is abundant evidence, however,
that the group used its own resources independently to influence the 2000
elections.]
|
Schedule A, Part VI A.
The Million Mom March declared zero expenditures in lines 36 and 37
for grassroots lobbying and for direct lobbying to influence legislation.
It seems to have been entitled, however, to spend some money on these activities
without incurring taxes. |
Part VI-A—Lobbying Expenditures by Electing Public Charities
Complete Part VI-A only for an eligible organization that elected to
be subject to the lobbying expenditure limitations of section 501(h) by
filing Form 5768 and for which the election was valid and in effect for
its tax year beginning in the year 2001. A public charity
that makes a valid section 501(h) election may spend up to a certain percentage
of its “exempt purpose expenditures” to influence legislation without incurring
tax or losing its tax-exempt status. Expenditure test. Under the
“expenditure test,” there are limits both upon the amount of the organization’s
grassroots lobbying expenditures and upon the total amount of its direct
lobbying and grassroots lobbying expenditures. If the electing public charity
does not meet this “expenditure test,” it will owe a section 4911 excise
tax on its excess lobbying expenditures. Moreover, if over a 4-year averaging
period the organization’s average annual total lobbying or grassroots lobbying
expenditures are more than 150% of its dollar limits, the organization
will lose its exempt status. The following terms are used in Part VI-A.
See Regulations section 56.4911 for details.
Exempt purpose expenditures. The amount an electing public charity may
spend on lobbying (without incurring tax) is a scaled percentage of the
organization’s exempt purpose expenditures. In general, an expenditure
is an exempt purpose expenditure if it is paid or incurred by an electing
public charity to accomplish the organization’s exempt purpose. In general,
exempt purpose expenditures are:
1. The total amount paid or incurred for religious, charitable, scientific,
literary, or educational purposes, or for the prevention of cruelty to
children or animals, or to foster national or international amateur sports
competition (not including providing athletic facilities or equipment,
other than by qualified amateur sports organizations described in section
501(j)(2)),
2. The allocable portion of administrative expenses paid or incurred
for the above purposes,
3. Amounts paid or incurred to try to influence legislation,
whether or not for the purposes described in 1 above,
4. Allowance for depreciation or amortization, and
5. Fundraising expenditures, except that exempt purpose expenditures
do not include amounts paid to or incurred for either the organization’s
separate fundraising unit or other organizations, if the amounts are primarily
for fundraising.
See also Regulations section 56.4911-4(c) for a discussion of excluded
expenditures.
Lobbying expenditures. The term “lobbying expenditures”
means expenditures paid or incurred for the purpose of attempting to influence
legislation:
•Through communication with any member or employee of a legislative
body, or with any government official or employee who may participate in
the formulation of the legislation, and
•By attempting to affect the opinions of the general public.
To determine if an organization has spent excessive amounts on lobbying,
you must know which expenditures are lobbying expenditures and which are
not lobbying expenditures. An electing public charity’s lobbying expenditures
for a year are the sum of its expenditures during that year for (1) direct
lobbying communications (“direct lobbying expenditures”) plus (2) grassroots
lobbying communications (“grassroots expenditures”). Direct lobbying communications
(“direct lobbying expenditures”).
A direct lobbying communication is any attempt to influence any legislation
through communication with any:
•Member or employee of a legislative body, or
•Government official or employee (other than a member or employee of
a legislative body) who may participate in the formulation of the legislation,
but only if the principal purpose of the communication is to influence
legislation. A communication with a legislator or government official will
be treated as a direct lobbying communication, if, but only if, the communication:
•Refers to specific legislation, and
•Reflects a view on such legislation.
Grassroots lobbying communications (“grassroots expenditures”). A grassroots
lobbying communication is any attempt to influence any legislation through
an attempt to affect the opinions of the general public or any part of
the general public. A communication is generally not a grassroots lobbying
communication unless (in addition to referring to specific legislation
and reflecting a view on that legislation) it encourages recipients to
take action about the specific legislation. A communication encourages
a recipient to take action when it:
(1) States that the recipient should contact legislators;
(2) States a legislator’s address, phone number, etc.;
(3) Provides a petition, tear-off postcard, or similar material for
the recipient to send to a legislator; or
(4) Specifically identifies one or more legislators who:
•Will vote on legislation;
•Opposes the communication’s view on the legislation;
•Is undecided about the legislation; •Is the recipient’s representative
in the legislature; or
•Is a member of the legislative committee that will consider the legislation.
A communication described in (4) above generally is grassroots lobbying
only if, in addition to referring to and reflecting a view on specific
legislation, it is a communication that cannot meet the “full and fair
exposition” test as nonpartisan analysis, study, or research. |
Form 990, Line 81, report of zero
political expenditures
Line 81 reports zero for "political expenditures,
direct or indirect, as described in the instructions for line 81." My previous
letters to this IRS address document this organization's efforts to influence
the 2000 elections in considerable detail, and they included copies of
its own Internet Web pages plus (I believe) pages from Albert Gore's site.
As a recap, the Million Mom March's Mother's Day
rally— which almost certainly had to have used some of the funds covered
in the Form 990— in Washington DC was, as I believe the NRA's American
Rifleman magazine put it, "a thinly-disguised campaign rally for Albert
Gore." The National Rifle Association is not an objective source, but plenty
of other evidence, including the MMM's own Web site at the time plus the
Gore site corroborate this.
1. In April 2000, the Million Mom March's Web site
claimed tax-exempt status while giving "apple pie" awards to Representatives
Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), Joe Hoefel (D-PA) and Connie Morella (R-MD) and
putting Tom DeLay (R-TX) in the "time out chair."
2. Election-related speeches were given by and
on behalf of politicians at the Mother's Day Rally. This material was taken
directly from speech transcripts that were posted on the Million Mom March's
own Web site. It's convincing evidence that there was a concerted effort
at the Mother's Day Rally, which almost certainly used 501(c)(3) tax-exempt
funds, to influence the November elections. A slip of the tongue by one
speaker could have been construed as an accident, and something not sanctioned
by the event's organizers. Had this been the case, the organizers would
of course have reminded the other speakers that electioneering was not
appropriate at a tax-exempt activity. Slips of the tongue by at least six
speakers, including at two House candidates (Rush and McCarthy) and Maryland's
lieutenant governor? I don't think so.
• Excerpt from Elizabeth Wright (Coalition to Stop
Gun Violence), advocating the defeat of George Bush: "We will translate
the incredible energy and enthusiasm generated by this Million Mom March
into power at the voting booth in November. We will organize to elect state
and local representatives who will advocate sensible gun control legislation.
We will make sure that the NRA does not have an office in the White House
come November!"
• Excerpt from Rabbi Eric Yoffie's (Union of American
Hebrew Congregations, also 501(c)3 tax-exempt) speech urging the election
of Albert Gore: "We are ready for a knockdown, drag-out, no-holds barred
battle against the NRA - which is the real criminal lobby in this country,
and which is drenched in the blood of murdered children. Sure, we may not
have the money of the NRA, but we've got savvy, grit and passion, and we're
going to find out who's getting NRA funds, and who's benefitting from NRA
ads, and we're going to vote for the other guy! ..." "The American people,
I believe, are ready for a leader who will take on the fanatics and support
sensible gun control." (When I last checked, Yoffie's speech was still
posted on the UAHC's own Web site.)
• Excerpts from a speech given by Kathleen Kennedy
Townsend, lieutenant governor of Maryland. "It is time for Congress to
follow the example of courageous leaders like Governor Parris Glendenning,
Vice President Al Gore, and Bill Clinton. Today we march with our feet
to Washington. In November we will march with our feet to the polling booth!"
"Now, let me ask you to join me in a chant that will take us to November:
We're going to vote! We're going to vote! We're going to vote!"
• Excerpt from a speech given by Rep. Bobby Rush
(D-IL). "I want to thank President Clinton for his outstanding leadership
on this issue, and the First Lady, and the Vice President." [Ms. Clinton
was, of course, running for Senate (NY)] "You're here today, and I tell
you, tomorrow, after you leave, this Congress won't be the same. In November
this Congress won't be the same. In January, this Congress won't be the
same, because of you!"
• Excerpt from a speech by representative Carolyn
McCarthy (D-NY), who also was touted on the "Apple Pie Award" page. "Now
you are going to go home, and you're going to talk to your legislators,
and you're going to vote for those people that stand up for the rights
that we believe in -- in making this a safer country for all of us!" "I
thank you for coming here. Now go home, and you make the difference. Get
out and vote! And bring ten people with you. Get out and vote! And vote
for those that stand with you on your issue, and we will beat the NRA!"
• Excerpt from the speech by Reese Witherspoon:
"I want them to go to the polls in November with gun control in mind, and
vote for those representatives who are committed to saving this nation
from gun violence. It's just that simple."
Then there was the following press release (October
2000):
Million Mom March to the Polls
Million Mom March
Press Release
9 October 2000
CHICAGO, 9 October 2000 (PRNewswire) -- The
Million Mom March today challenged the Commission on Presidential Debates
to include questions about gun violence and the safety of our nation's
children in next week's debate.
"It was disappointing and disgusting that
an issue so important was ignored in the first presidential debate, said
Mary Leigh Blek, President of the Million Mom March. "Ten kids die from
gun violence every single day in this country. Gun violence is a major
public health problem costing taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars
every year.
The Million Mom March has been organizing
chapters across America since its Mother's Day rally earlier this year.
More than 750,000 mothers and others marched on Washington and in 73 additional
cities in an historic show of force to demand sensible gun laws and safe
kids.
The Moms today announced major get-out-the-vote
efforts in key congressional districts including Florida 22nd, New Hampshire
2nd, Connecticut 5th, New Jersey 3rd and 12th, Kentucky 3rd and 6th, Pennsylvania
13th, Ohio 12th, Illinois 10th, Utah 2nd, California 27th and Washington
2nd.
Furthermore, one of the group's regional directors
(Katina Johnstone) was herself running for Congress in 2000. See
http://www.evote.com/elections2000/results/NewStates/NY.asp
Albert Gore's own Web site posted photos of Tipper
Gore and Senator Barbara Mikulsky (D-MD) in Million Mom March T-shirts
at the Mother's Day Rally. The event was therefore used as a photo-opportunity
by the official Gore campaign.
If the Internal Revenue Service wants further evidence
that the Million Mom March Foundation engaged in electioneering, it should
contact the following people at the National Rifle Association. Mr. LaPierre
and Mr. McElrath must have impartial and objective evidence to support
the following statements (July 2000 issue of the American Rifleman magazine):
• NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre
writes, "The 'hate NRA' theme was only matched by the demand for political
action. '…Get out there and use your vote.' 'Support Al Gore.' 'In November,
march with our feet to the polling booth.' 'Take us to November. We're
gonna vote!' 'We are going to vote, write checks.'"
• Daniel T. McElrath writes, "The march itself
turned out to be a thinly disguised Clinton-Gore rally designed to rouse
the flagging interest of the 'soccer moms' whose support the Democrats
need in November."
————————————————————————————————-
From: William A. Levinson [address given]
To: Internal Revenue ServiceTE/GE Division, Customer
Service
P.O. Box 2508 Cincinnati, OH 45201
certified mail 7099 3220 0008 7131 3687
cc: Wayne LaPierre
11250 Waples Mill Road
Fairfax, VA 22030-9400
certified mail 7099 3220 0008 7131 3694
(Federal Election Commission may also be notified)
15 July, 2000
501(c)(3) tax exempt Bell Campaign involved in
influencing Federal elections
The two enclosed articles by Wayne LaPierre and
Daniel T. McElrath indicate that the Million Mom March rally in Washington
on May 15 violated Federal tax laws and Federal election laws by campaigning
on behalf of candidates for Federal office. (Mr. LaPierre, please send
the IRS and FEC any transcripts, videotapes, or eyewitness accounts of
the rally that would consitute legal evidence that electioneering took
place.) In addition, I previously sent the IRS copies of the Million Mom
March's "Apple Pie Award" page, which endorsed House candidates Carolyn
McCarthy (D-NY), Joe Hoeffel (D-PA), and Connie Morella (R-NY). The "Time
Out Chair" page attacked House candidate Tom DeLay (R-TX). The Million
Mom March had, until a few days before the event, advertised itself as
a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization, and it was also accepting corporate
contributions from companies like StrideRite and Guess.
The Million Mom March's Web page, "FORM 990 AND
1023 DISCLOSURE" at http://www.millionmommarch.com/html/who/forms.html
says the tax exempt Bell Campaign was a party to this activity: "At the
time of the Million Mom March on Mothers' Day 2000, the march was a project
of a 501(c)(3) charity called The Bell Campaign." If the enclosed articles
by LaPierre and McElrath are accurate, this means a political campaign
rally was a project of the Bell Campaign.
The IRS page at http://www.irs.gov/plain/bus_info/eo/eo-faqs.html#12
says, Can tax-exempt organizations endorse candidates for public office?
Whether a tax-exempt organization may endorse candidates
for public office without jeopardizing its tax-exempt status depends upon
the type of tax-exempt organization it is. For example, § 501(c)(3)
organizations may not engage in political activity, including endorsing
candidates, but other organizations, such as §501(c)(4) organizations,
may engage in political activity so long as that is not their primary activity.
However, § 501(c) organizations that make expenditures for political
activity may be subject to tax under § 527(f). For more information,
download Election Year Issues.
Regards,William A. Levinson
Enclosed:Wayne LaPierre's article [July American
Rifleman]
Daniel McElrath's article
Million Mom March tax disclosure page (quoted portion)
Transcript of Rabbi Eric Yoffie's speech, includes
apparent pitch for Albert Gore
Transcript of Elizabeth Wright, "We will make sure
that the NRA does not have an office in the White House come November!"
The Million Mom March's principal mission was to
influence legislation
 |
The following looks like a calculation to the effect that the MMM would
have been allowed to spend up to $451,877 on lobbying and $112,969
on grassroots lobbying without exceeding limits. I am not a lawyer or
tax accountant, and this is not legal or tax advice.
 |
The following is from the Million
Mom March's own Web site; I downloaded this in 2000 and kept it on file.
It is word-for-word with no alterations, except for the added footnote
regarding "12 more children," and the highlighting of the phrase, "specifically
they are urging Congress to enact a law requiring that all gun owners be
licensed and registered, including mandatory safety training." It is this
phrase that I find very difficult to reconcile with the MMM's answer of
"no" to Schedule A, Part III, line 1:
"During the year, has
the organization attempted to influence national, state, or local legislation,
including any attempt to influence public opinion on a legislative matter
or referendum?"
Contrary again to the answer of "No" to the above question, the Million
Mom March defines its primary mission as follows: "The Million Mom March
is about common sense gun laws."
Million Mom March
Sensible gun laws, safe kids
Backgrounder
Every day, 12 children die from gunshot wounds. Each day there is no
action on this issue, we lose 12 more children. It is the horror
of events like Columbine that grab the news headlines, but these daily
deaths are even more commonplace than a dramatic school shooting-they are
happening in everyone's backyard.
These children are crime victims; wrong place, wrong time victims;
unlocked-and-loaded-in-the-house victims; neighbor accidentally killing
neighbor; and suicides...all with one major factor in common: death. Lives
are destroyed because a gun fell into the wrong hands.
The Million Mom March was conceived in the fall of 1999 by a New
Jersey Mom who had enough. Donna Dees-Thomases received a wake-up call
while watching the footage of the Granada Hills Day Camp massacre.
Her young children were untouched by gun violence, and she was fiercely
determined to keep them that way. Her hope was to harness the passion of
hundreds of thousands of people who are determined to keep our kids safe.
Today thousands of women and their families are working together
to plan for the national Million Mom March rally on the Mall in Washington,
D.C., and the local events and rallies in a number of cities throughout
the country, all on Mother's Day, May 14, 2000.
These mothers, step-mothers, grandmothers, and honorary mothers
in this crusade are organizing buses, planes and mini-vans to meet in Washington.
And they are pulling together hometown events where they live to spread
their message.
The Million Mom March is not about banning guns. The
Million Mom March is about common sense gun laws-specifically they are
urging Congress to enact a law requiring that all gun owners be licensed
and registered, including mandatory safety training.
The hope is that this Mother's Day, from every part of the country,
a voice of reason will ring out demanding that Congress take action this
session.
What Can I Do ? | Coordinator Materials | Travel & Logistics
Media Area | Supporters | Background
(c) Copyright 2000 Million Mom March. All rights reserved.
Further evidence (from sources apparently friendly to the Million Mom March)
that the group gave the IRS inaccurate information in Schedule A, Item
III, line 1
1. http://www.usmayors.org/uscm/wash_update/crime/momsmarch.htm
• "The mission statement of the Million Mom March says, 'We, the mothers,
are calling on Congress to enact common sense gun control legislation by
Mothers' Day 2000.'"
2. http://discuss.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/zforum/00/poltalk_051100.htm
• Direct quote of MMM Regional Director Katina Johnstone: "This march
is asking Congress to regulate the sale, possession, manufacture and distribution
of handguns, which would dramatically reduce the number of gun deaths in
this country. With regulation, a ban is not needed.
The Million Mom March engaged
in substantial lobbying even though it told the IRS it didn't.
Note: the Bell Campaign links are no longer online. This information
was obtained almost two years ago, but it applies to the Million Mom March's
fiscal 2000 statement to the Internal Revenue Service.
1. http://www.bellcampaign.org/media/NRA_attack.htm: "We demand
that Congress take action on the President's request to pass the Gun Show
Background Check legislation by April 20, the first anniversary of Columbine.
The NRA played a major role in the fact that all gun legislation stalled
after Columbine. We also call for licensing of gun owners and registration
of all handguns."
2. Media release dated September 23, 1999 at http://www.bellcampaign.org/media/million.htm
WASHINGTON, DC: Representatives of The Bell Campaign joined Congresswoman
Carolyn McCarthy (NY- 4), Congresswoman Connie Morella (MD-8) and
Donna Dees-Thomases, founder of the "Million Mom March Mother's Day 2000",
today on the steps of the nation's capitol in calling on Congress to pass
laws that protect communities from gun death and injury.
3. Press release dated August 12, 1999 at http://www.bellcampaign.org/media/jccpress.htm.
The title is "Bell Campaign Demands Congressional Action." "With yet another
gun violence tragedy occurring this week at a Jewish Community Center near
Los Angeles, The Bell Campaign calls on the United States Congress to stand
up to the gun industry and pass responsible gun laws."
4. Bell Campaign's attempt to influence Congress on The Safe
Streets and Neighborhood Act of 2000 (U.S. H.R. 4051), at http://www.bellcampaign.org/done/maryleighblekhousestatement.htm.
(April 6, 2000) "So I am here today to say that calling for the establishment
of a grant program to provide incentives for states to enact mandatory
minimum sentences will do little to prevent gun deaths and injuries.
More importantly, it will divert money and attention from where it truly
belongs. What we need are comprehensive and common sense gun policies
that include consumer product safety protections, especially in design
features to prevent child and other unauthorized use. We must address the
many loopholes in our current laws that allow for the distribution of firearms
to criminals and prohibited classes of persons. It is way past time
to hold gun owners personally accountable and responsible for the
possession of firearms and that means a system where all gun owners are
licensed and all guns are registered. …"
5. Bell Campaign calls on Congress to enact "common-sense gun
laws" on April 17. http://www.bellcampaign.org/done/nraadpresresponse.htm
"Licensing gun owners and registering guns are just common sense legislation
that is way overdue in this country. The Million Mom March is yet another
example that the people have had enough of the gun lobby dictating our
gun policy. On Mother's Day 2000 there will be a million moms and
others joining with victims in Washington D.C. and in local marches as
they call upon Congress to enact common sense gun laws."
6. Bell Campaign brochure at http://www.bellcampaign.org/images/bellcambro.pdf:
"We will demand national, state, and local gun policies to reduce access
to guns." In addition, this brochure, as downloaded on June 15, still represents
the Bell Campaign as tax exempt. "Your additional tax deductible contribution
will advance our mission to prevent gun death and injury, and to support
the victims of gun trauma."
Further evidence that the Million
Mom March Foundation's fiscal 2000 tax return is far from truthful
http://128.121.250.41/activism/mmm/index.asp
(7/6/02) Brady Center testifies that the MMM's tax
return is not truthful.
"On Mother's Day, Sunday, May 14, 2000, over 750,000 mothers, fathers
and children converged on the National Mall in Washington, DC to let our
elected officials know that gun control legislation is needed and the rhetoric
needs to end."
http://archive.nandotimes.com/election2000/story/0,3977,500204245-500283510-501519874-0-nandotimes,00.html
(Nando Times archive)
"Hillary Clinton faces mob scene at Million Mom March"
By SHANNON McCAFFREY, Associated Press
WASHINGTON (May 14, 2000 6:09 p.m. EDT http://www.nandotimes.com)
-
"A crush of media and excited onlookers forced Hillary Rodham Clinton
to take a detour shortly after she joined the Million Mom March as it moved
along the National Mall on Sunday."
"The Mother's Day march was intended to send lawmakers
and the gun lobby a message that American families support stricter gun
control laws."
http://www.zip.com.au/~cpa/garchve2/1002usa.html
The Guardian, 31 May 2000
US women rally for gun control
by Tim Wheeler
On Mother's
Day 750,000 women rallied in Washington to demand enactment
of "sensible gun control" laws. The protesters, many of them mothers
holding portraits of their slain children, cheered as speakers
called for ousting lawmakers tied to the National Rifle Association (NRA)
who block gun control legislation.
Donna Dees-Thomases, Million Mom March initiator, said "Our
votes are our power and we will use that in force in the November elections."
...First Lady Hillary Clinton, a candidate for the US Senate from New
York, said in a taped message: "We have had enough bloodshed, enough violence.
When children are afraid to walk down their own blocks or walk to their
own schools ... or even visit neighbours, it is time to say enough!"
I have little doubt that Senator Clinton is involved in this scandal up
to her neck if not higher, especially given her connection to Donna Dees-Thomases
and her husband's well-known record of "creative" fundraising.
http://www.hud.gov/library/bookshelf18/pressrel/pr00-230.html
Clinton's HUD Secretary Andrew Cuomo bears witness that the Million Mom
March Foundation filed an inaccurate tax return:
HUD News
HUD No. 00-230
For Release Tuesday September 5, 2000
Or contact your local HUD office
SECRETARY CUOMO, MILLION MOM MARCH ORGANIZERS RENEW CALL FOR GUN SAFETY
LEGISLATION
WASHINGTON - On the day Congress started its return to session, U.S.
Housing and Urban Development Secretary Andrew Cuomo stood on the steps
of the U.S. Capitol with local organizers of the Million Mom March to urge
passage of sensible gun legislation that would protect children and keep
guns out of the hands of criminals. Joining Cuomo at the event were U.S.
Representatives Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC) and James Moran (VA); Handgun
Control Inc. President Michael Barnes; Million Mom March board member Beckie
Brown; and gun violence victims from DC, Maryland, and Virginia.
"On Mother's Day, hundreds of thousands of mothers cried out that they
would no longer tolerate gun violence, and demanded lawmakers
to pass laws to stop the epidemic. And no one knows the grim reality
of gun-related child mortality better than America's mothers," he added.
"As my wife and I stood with America's moms on the Mall that day, we all
hoped Congress would end its gridlock on this issue. Sadly, little has
changed and the gridlock remains."
As a result of the lack of legislation, Million Mom March leaders today
announced November's "March to the Polls," a grassroots effort to elect
those candidates who pledge to support gun legislation, and vote against
those who do not.
Organizers of today's event say they want Congress to:
require handgun owners to be licensed and all
handguns be registered;
close the "gun show" loophole;
limit gun buyers to purchasing one gun a month;
and
require consumer product safety standards
for guns.
"On May 14, we called on Congress to enact sensible gun
laws for the sake of our children and our nation," said Claudette
Perry, local Field Office Director for the Million Mom March. "Now, we
renew our call. And if these lawmakers do not listen, we will elect new
ones."
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines/121000-01.htm
Published on Sunday, December 10, 2000 in the Sunday Times of London
Yoko Ono May Help Lead New US Gun Control Campaign
by Tom Rhodes
...However, the NRA is not the force it was. Following a series
of shootings in schools, public opinion has started to turn against it.
Earlier this year thousands of women in Washington DC took part in a "Million
Mom March" against guns, led by Hillary Clinton and the mothers of several
children shot dead at Dunblane. Electors were urged to vote
against politicians who backed guns.
Their efforts were evident in the results of the November 7
election. Eight out of 12 senators and congressmen deemed to be the staunchest
advocates of the gun lobby were resoundingly defeated. Bush failed to win
states such as Pennsylvania and Michigan where he had promoted gun ownership
as a pillar of his campaign.
My own opinion is that the scandal about misuse of 501(c)(3) tax exempt
money by the Million Mom March may have LOST the election for Gore, but
that's beside the point. This Web page is for gun control, and it implicates
the Million Mom March for telling the public one thing and the Internal
Revenue Service something else. And, as I said, Hillary Clinton is probably
in this mess up to her neck and, when it hits the fan, she will be a one-term
Senator unless she has to resign in disgrace.
Million Mom ally,
Lutheran
Office for Governmental Affairs, provides damning evidence at http://www.loga.org/MAY00LUMillionMomMarch.htm
LOGA May 2000 Legislative Update
Million Mom March Comes to DC
The
Million Mom March (MMM) is a grassroots movement of mothers and others
who will march on the Capitol in Washington D.C. on Mothers Day, May 14,
to call upon Congress to pass sensible gun legislation. The March
will take place at the National Mall between the U.S. Capitol and the Washington
Monument. The stage will be close to the Air and Space Museum. Rosie O’Donnell
has agreed to be the Master of Ceremonies. An interfaith service
will take place at 10:00 a.m. The rally will begin at noon and will finish
by 3:00 p.m.
The MMM is dedicated to the mission of educating and mobilizing
concerned families nationwide to seek common sense gun control laws
and no-nonsense enforcement of those laws in order to protect our children
and our children’s children. The MMM mission statement calls for: 1) cooling
off periods and background checks before guns may be purchased, 2) licensing
of handgun owners and registration of all handguns, 3) safety locks for
all handguns, 4) limiting handgun purchases to one per month per person,
and 5) no nonsense enforcement of existing gun laws. Check out the ELCA
website www.elca.org/dcs/communit.html for the message on Community
Violence.
ACTION NEEDED: Come to Washington on May 14th. Church
Women United is planning a briefing on Monday morning, May 15, after which
people will be encouraged to go to the Hill and talk to their members of
Congress. Bring your husbands, daughters, sons and friends as well.
If you can’t come to Washington, additional marches and events are also
scheduled in cities across the nation.
Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) implicates Million Mom
March: (
http://levin.senate.gov/photogal/mom514c.gif)
versus this:
More good stuff:
