Brady Files IRS Complaint Challenging NRA Tax-Exempt Status

Nearly 150,000 individuals signed an accompanying petition

Washington, D.C., October 3, 2019 — On Thursday, Brady joined thousands of concerned people across the country in filing a complaint with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) demanding an investigation into the National Rifle Association of America’s (NRA’s) tax-exempt status.

Brady’s complaint requests that the IRS investigate whether or not the NRA operates in the public interest, as its current tax-exempt status requires. Brady joins the nearly 150,000 people who have demanded an investigation.

Brady President, Kris Brown stated,

“The NRA has continuously expanded its lobbying arm and moved away from its history of gun safety and defending the constitutional rights of Americans. The organization now acts almost solely to protect the interests of the gun industry, putting profits over people. It’s time that this trade association masquerading as a social welfare organization is unveiled for what it truly is. With ever-growing reports that the NRA was involved with Russian interference in the 2016 election, and that the organization has requested unlawful legislative payback for funding President Trump’s defense against impeachment, we need to look at the NRA not only in regard to its tax-exempt status, but as a threat to American democracy.

One hundred people are killed by gun violence every single day in the United States. We know the solutions, but the NRA has continued to use its money to stop our President and his allies in Congress from taking action. The American people deserve better.”

Brady delivered the complaint on the back of new reports that Trump met with the NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre to discuss whether the NRA could provide support to the president as he faces impeachment and a difficult re-election. The NRA denies that this was in exchange for opposition to gun laws. In addition to describing how the NRA’s organizational purpose and operations are aimed at benefiting the financial interests of the firearms industry, Brady’s complaint calls out the gross expenditures reported by the New Yorker uncovering Wayne LaPierre’s $200,000 wardrobe expenses and more than $1 million in compensation.

Brady and petition signers are demanding that if the IRS finds that the NRA is indeed abusing its tax-exempt status, that its status be immediately and permanently revoked.

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Brady has one powerful mission — to unite all Americans against gun violence. We work across Congress, the courts, and our communities with over 90 grassroots chapters, bringing together young and old, red and blue, and every shade of color to find common ground in common sense. In the spirit of our namesakes Jim and Sarah Brady, we have fought for over 45 years to take action, not sides, and we will not stop until this epidemic ends. It’s in our hands.


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