Anti-Gun Groups Take Taxpayer Money While Funding the Election

In a clear conflict of interest and misuse of public funds, two of the nation’s leading anti-gun organizations have been receiving taxpayer money through the federal government’s Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) while donating large sums to the campaigns of Democratic candidate Joe Biden and other gun control supporters.

The PPP was designed to keep small businesses afloat during the Coronavirus shutdown. But that is not how it worked for two prominent anti-gun groups. Both the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence and the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence received PPP funds after they promised to donate over $4 million to pro-gun control campaigns, according to the Washington Free Beacon.

According to the Small Business Administration, the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence received between $350,000 and $1 million on April 10 to support 41 employees. The Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, received a PPP loan between $150,000 and $350,000 at the end of April to cover 16 employee salaries, according to Townhall.com.

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What about pro-gun groups such as the National Rifle Association? According to the Free Beacon article, they reviewed the Small Business Administration records and did not find any PPP loans to pro-gun organizations, although the disclosures do not include any amounts under $150,000.

According to the NRA and the Second Amendment Foundation, neither received any loans, despite the NRA experiencing large layoffs because of the downturn. However, both organizations refused to apply for the PPP loans on principle and because of potential legal issues when accepting federal aid. Once pro-gun groups start accepting federal assistance, they risk losing their non-profit status and other benefits of being a privately held and funded organization.

Alan Gottlieb of the SAF said no part of his organization took PPP loans because he believed it was unethical to do so.

“As chairman of the Citizens' Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms and the executive vice president of the Second Amendment Foundation, since one of the arms is political, I would not have applied for it,” Gottlieb told the Free Beacon. “I don't think it's appropriate.”

He went on to express his views on the anti-gun groups accepting PPP funds.

“I find it appalling they applied for, took, and even got PPP loans,” he said. “The Brady Center and Giffords should give the money back. Gun owners in this country shouldn't have their tax dollars used to support groups that want to take their guns away.” ~ David

David Workman
David is an avid gun guy and a contributing writer to several major
gun publications. In addition to being an NRA-certified RSO, David trains
new shooters on basic handgun skills and CCW requirements and is a strong
advocate for training as much as you possibly can. "Real life shootouts
don't happen at a box range."

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