National Campaign for a Peace Tax Fund

COs Shouldn't Go to Jail!

On July 1, 2005, three conscientious objectors from New Jersey were sentenced to prison terms of 6, 24, and 27 months for refusing to pay taxes for military purposes. Please ask your members of Congress to respond to these harsh sentences by supporting legislation to honor the convictions of conscientious objectors: the Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund bill.

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September 02, 2010

Subject:

Dear Member of Congress,

On July 1, three members of a small Bible study-based religious group from New Jersey were sentenced to prison terms for following their beliefs about participation in war. U.S. District Judge Jerome B. Simandle sentenced three members of the Restored Israel of Yahweh to prison terms of up to 27 months for obeying their consciences against financial participation in the military (United States V. Joe Donato et al. 04-CR-216 (JBS) in the District of New Jersey.)

Members of the Restored Israel of Yahweh are not alone in their convictions against paying for war. Thousands of U.S. citizens have had their wages garnished, some have had cars and even houses seized, and they are often harassed by the Internal Revenue Service because their convictions against paying for war and war preparation. Surely there is some way to accomodate these good people within the law!

I encourage you to join Rep. John Lewis and 37 other cosponsors in supporting H.R. 2631: the Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund Bill.  This bill would allow religious freedom to conscientious objectors by allowing them to pay their federal income, gift, and estate taxes into a fund earmarked for nonmilitary governmental purposes only. A conscientious objector, as defined by U.S. government, is someone who is "opposed to participation in war in any form based on a religious or moral belief."

Since 1940, U.S. law has allowed conscientious objectors to perform alternative service rather than be conscripted into the military. This law should be extended to allow alternative service for the drafted tax dollars of sincere conscientious objectors.These conscientious objectors seek a way to pay 100% of their taxes without violating their religious or ethical convictions by participating financially in war.

I ask you to please sponsor H.R. 2631 - the Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund Bill. We need your leadership to obtain legal redress for the religious and ethical freedom of conscientious objectors to military taxation.

Thank you for considering this important legislation.

Sincerely,

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