"People were shot in Arizona, give us some money"; Or, A letter from the Bradys

[friendly_iconoclast]

Signed by Paul Helmke, no less (all caps in the original):

JANUARY 14, 2011


I TRUST YOU ARE AS SADDENED AND ANGRY AS I AM ABOUT THE DESPICABLE SHOOTINGS IN ARIZONA. AS THE DETAILS EMERGE, IT'S CLEAR
THAT THIS 22-YEAR-OLD SHOOTER WAS TOO UNSTABLE TO BE ACCEPTED BY THE MILITARY, TOO DANGEROUS TO BE ALLOWED TO ATTEND HIS
COMMUNITY COLLEGE, AND WAS CALLED "VERY DISTURBED" BY HIS CLASSMATES...

(this next bit is underlined in the original)

...I URGE YOU TO RUSH A GENEROUS GIFT TO THE BRADY CAMPAIGN TODAY TO HELP US BRING SANITY TO OUR NATION'S GUN LAWS...

Well, yes, I am saddened and angry about the Arizona shootings, however-

I note that Helmke is not so SADDENED AND ANGRY as to prevent him from trying to make a buck from it less than a week later.

[xchrom]

1. I donate to them. I've donated to them recently

Because of the massacre.

[Katya Mullethov]

2. We took up another collection at work

And sent Sarah another pack of Luckys .

[DissedByBush]

6. You're a brave person

I never donate to a charity that doesn't have a clear donor privacy policy.

The Brady bunch doesn't.

[Hoopla Phil]

9. Speaking of that, did anyone every buy it?

[Hoopla Phil]

8. I guess they have more the 20 bucks now.

[xchrom]

12. I don't know. I have money and I donate

More than 20 bucks at a time.

The reaction here is satisfaction enough.

[Hoopla Phil]

14. Keep it up. Give till it hurts - then give a bit more. They really need all

you can give, plus some.

[xchrom]

15. Your reaction is worth every penny. Nt

[Hoopla Phil]

17. Please keep giving. Give all you can - plus a bit more.

They need it for the cause. You really don't need heat do you. Please keep giving.

[xchrom]

18. don't worry about me -- sweetie -- i'm a giver. nt

[friendly_iconoclast]

19. You are a shining example. I urge all of you to donate like xchrom and I have.

Considering how completely ineffectual the various Brady orgs have been, there remains the danger that if and when they go under,

they might be replaced by something that actually accomplishes their stated mission.



Please give, so the NRA can keep using them as a speedbag....

[xchrom]

20. like i say -- your reactions make the giving worth while. nt

[friendly_iconoclast]

21. And the stuff they send me also makes my donation worthwhile.

As long as they are what they are, and do what they do, I'm happy.


Would that everyone whose views I oppose remain so blissfully unaware of the meaning of 'counterproductive'!

[xchrom]

24. LOL! There's no other point of view than yours. Nt

[lawodevolution]

27. 18 U.S.C. § 241

"If two or more persons conspire to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate any person in any State, Territory, Commonwealth, Possession, or District in the free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege secured to him by the Constitution or laws of the United States, or because of his having so exercised the same; or
If two or more persons go in disguise on the highway, or on the premises of another, with intent to prevent or hinder his free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege so secured—
They shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and if death results from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill, they shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for any term of years or for life, or both, or may be sentenced to death."



Based on current law, anti-gun tactics used in california to intimidate gun owners from purchasing guns is covered by this law and any group such as the brady campaign that not only supports this tactic but has brought this tactic into existence would be made up of people conspiring to oppress and intimidate americans from practicing a right or privilege secured by the constitution and in light of the McDonald and Heller decisions this law was called into question. So you might want to think twice about donating to any pro gun control group because all of them are in violation of this law and who knows if this law will be brought into enforcement on the issue in the future.

[Hoopla Phil]

22. I'm really not worried in the slightest about you derry. I want you to keep giving.

You don't really need heat the rest of the winter (and I'm not worried) so give all you can, plus a bit more.

[xchrom]

23. Of course you aren't - you spend so much on guns -

You can't spell 'dearie'.

[lawodevolution]

10. For every donation you make to the Brady campaign they go out and motivate more people to buy guns

[pipoman]

26. Oooooh, so you're the one..

[Tejas]

29. (oo)

I saw what you did there.

:rofl:

[bluestateguy]

3. Helmke is a Republican who wants the Democrats to pursue gun control so they will lose elections

nt

[Tejas]

30. At first I was like

But then I was like




Not really that far fetched, stranger things have happened.

[-..__...]

4. Brady Campaign 'War Chest'...

I have to admire Hemlkes tenacity, drive and determination.

Must have taken a lot of time and effort rummaging under sofa cushions, returning empties and begging on freeway entrance ramps in order to raise that amount of cash so quickly.

[Hoopla Phil]

7. You realize that jar has more money in it than the brady bunch's bank account?

And that's no joke.

[-..__...]

11. They're so hard up for cash...

that when they have an all night 'brain storming' session and send out for Dominoes, the delivery driver tells them to keep the change.

And that's no joke.

B-)

[Callisto32]

28. The only accounts of the Bradys that have anything in them...

are the personal accounts of the "directors."

[Upton]

5. What a ghoul..

what an absolute ghoul.

[X_Digger]

13. Remember, the Brady Org is three groups..

Brady Campaign - $(564,123) -- they lost $90,000 this year.
Brady Center - $1,700,000 -- they lost $250,000 this year.
Brady PAC -- $8,500 cash on hand-- they lost $3,200 this year


http://www.bradycenter.org/xshare/pdf/annual-reports/current.pdf
http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/lookup2.php?strID=C00113449

[shadowrider]

16. Hurry up and send money or I'll starve n/t

[friendly_iconoclast]

25. Hurry up and send money. Even the Joyce Foundation is tired of us. n/t