Posted on 02/07/2015 11:33:55 AM PST by Steve Newton
Ok. This is the final version of an Act to remove the tax exempt status from all Islamic organizations. Let's FReep this petition.
AT THE FIRST SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on (Place date here)
An Act
To revoke the tax exempt status of all Islamic organizations in the United States. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE
Short Title- This Act may be cited as the `revocation of Islamic Organizations tax status Act of 2015 or RIOTS.
SECTION 2. Revocation of Islamic organizations tax exempt status
Whereas, under the Internal Revenue Code, all section 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office and to refrain from political activity;
Whereas, it is obvious that Islam is not a religion but a political system that is in opposition to the laws and traditions of the United States;
Whereas, an ideology that prohibits voluntary choice to be a part of that belief, is nothing but a totalitarian dictatorial system;
Whereas, Sharia law is a barbaric legal system which cannot and will not be used anywhere in the United States;
Whereas, the primary text of Islam, the Quran, repeatedly indicates ongoing commands, compulsion, praise and reward for violent and terroristic acts against all non-believers, and this is in direct conflict with this country's founding principles of individual liberty and freedom of religion.
Whereas, Islam’s Quran, is a book filled with a call for violence, prejudice against women, political domination and perversions; and
Whereas, the sacrifices of members and veterans of the Armed Forces on behalf of the United States in fighting Islam should never be forgotten;
Therefore, now be it so declared,
That the House and Senate supports the revocation of any and all tax exemptions now enjoyed by Islamic institutions.
Senate Sponsors:
House Sponsors:
Supported by Common Sense for Americans http://commonsenseforamericans.weebly.com/
Take away their zerocare waivers, too.
The U.S. Constitution won’t let you single out one particular religious group. You would have to write it in such a way that would apply equally to all religious groups, and you couldn’t single out one by name. We’ve already had a court decision on that matter in Oklahoma. It was overturned.
Hey Star Traveler
Have done a little research since the last version. As I understand it, if it is determined that Islam is NOT a religion, they can revoke the tax exempt status based on administrative concerns which is not unconstitutional.
The question there ... is ... what governmental agency would then be granted the authority to make a determination on whether something qualifies as a religion?
Then, once you identify that governmental agency that does that ... then where in the US Constitution would grant that authority. Or better yet ... what section of the US Constitution would override the “First Amendment” in our Bill of Rights?
— — —
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
— — —
The First Amendment (Amendment I) to the United States Constitution prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering with the right to peaceably assemble or prohibiting the petitioning for a governmental redress of grievances. It was adopted on December 15, 1791, as one of the ten amendments that constitute the Bill of Rights.
This Act does not determine if Islam is a religion. It simply says that Islam does not qualify for tax exemption. This happens all the time.
They can still be a “religion” but we simply would not have to subsidize them with our tax dollars.
Here’s some background material for you ...
Religion
http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Religion
Thank you my FR friend.
The qualification for a 501(c)(3) classification would also require not singling anyone out by name, but rather by “qualification” ... of which all organizations would have to be subject to the same qualifications.
Exemption Requirements - 501(c)(3) Organizations
http://www.irs.gov/Charities-&-Non-Profits/Charitable-Organizations/Exemption-Requirements-Section-501(c)(3)-Organizations
Publication 557 (10/2013), Tax-Exempt Status for Your Organization
http://www.irs.gov/publications/p557/ch03.html
Your very welcome!
There is some thinking ... already ... that a religious organization (church) does NOT need the 501(c)(3) recognition from IRS ... but rather ... they are AUTOMATICALLY EXEMPT.
You might also consider that one ... :-) ...
Note this from another web page ...
According to the IRS documents “Churches that meet the requirements of IRC section 501(c)(3) are automatically considered tax exempt and are not required to apply for and obtain recognition of tax-exempt status from the IRS.”
http://www.cbfnc.org/finances/church-tax-exempt-status-
James Madison wrote, "Who does not see that the same authority which can establish Christianity, in exclusion of all other Religions, may establish with the same ease any particular sect of Christians, in exclusion of all other Sects?" Well the same authority that decides Islam is not a religion could just as easily decide the same about Catholics or Baptists or Jews. Your idea is a very slippery path that is not worth going down.
Perhaps this will help:
Some want to cite the Founders and then disregard everything they inherently recognized religion and our country to be, even sequestering religion itself. That’s a typical distortion and a deliberate abuse of the Founders intent. The Founders are not theirs to manipulate in the grave.
In this country the 1st Amendment guarantees that religion not be established or limited by the state. The reason being is that religion can be used to dictate and coerce and should have no direct affiliation with our government. This is not to say that the individual members of government cannot be religious or are prohibited from personally referencing religion.
Islam is essentially and inherently incongruous with this country’s principles.
First, I will begin stating that Islam is not a bona fide religion. When I make this very un-”PC” statement I am using the phrase “bona fide” as its literal meaning, that being “good faith”. Islam is not a bona fide (good faith) religion because it does not allow the freedom of faith, even within its own religion, with apostasy often being viewed as a greater crime than even non-belief. Often religion is referenced to be synonymous with the term “faith”, but if one’s faith is not freely given and free to be withdrawn, then it can accurately be said to be no real “faith” at all, for it is merely both a tool and a result of coercion. Our founders were dead set against religion being used as a tool of coercion, as well as being coerced by the state, or even being the state itself (a Caliphate being the goal of Islamic society).
Beyond that, Islam’s primary text praises, extols, institutionalizes, and gives its highest honor (entry into heaven) to acts of terrorism and varying degrees of coercion. Unlike evidence of violence in the Bible where it is describing historic details and events, those admonitions and promotions in Islamic text are not temporally or situationally limited.
Given these and other considerations, I do believe it is a falsehood to extend to Islam the blind belief its benefice is on par with Judaism and Christianity, however it is still entitled to the same freedoms we extend all religion in this country. That we extend this freedom to Islam when Islamists and Islam’s most central texts themselves openly define themselves to be enemies of what this country stands for, shows we have no realistic sense of self preservation. Our founders clearly erred more toward giving more freedom rather than to elevating judgments of what is a threat.
Quite obviously not every Islamist has acted as a terrorist, indeed the vast majority are not, nor should they be condemned and held accountable for the actions of others in their religion. However it is unreasonable to hold blameless these non-terrorist pacifists when the religion they subscribe to so definitively commands acts of terrorism. The fact remains that the very fundamental tenets of Islam are not only just incongruous with our society, but an anathema, openly hostile to, and incompatible with, our every freedom and liberty
By TJ McCann
Sorry no.
I won’t discriminate on the basis of religion. Behavior yes. Actions yes. Politics yes. But faith even if it’s not my own, is fundamental to the founding of our country.
You assert Islam is not a religion but a political system. Attack the political system then, not the religion.
Thank you.
But I am under the impression that radical Islam is a fundamental danger to the United States that must be contained. Islam and its teachings are simply not in accordance with the underlying morals, laws and traditions of this country.
We have let an enemy within our gates.
Therein lies the problem. Behavior, actions and politics are all rolled up in the “religion” of Islam. You cannot separate them.
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