H&R Blockheads

It seems as though H&R Block has capitulated to the high-pressure scare tactics of HCI in the form of the "Alliance for Justice" making the statement that they will make sure that they will tell anyone and everyone about who is aligned with the NRA, the "out-of-touch" and unreasonable organization.

H&R Block removed their advertising connection to the NRA due to this pressure. I wrote them a little note.

Well Sir, you've really screwed the pooch this time. I don't suppose it occurred to you while you were making up your politically correct policy that firearms owners encompass a large part of every city in this nation: Law Enforcement Officers, Security Personnel, and, you guessed it, Surety Agents. Where do you think we go for our training? Who do you think pays to support it? I realize that someone has fed you a line about "extremists" but the truth of the matter is There IS no one else who provides law enforcement grade certification but the NRA. There is nobody else. They certify the instructors who teach. So there IS no other certifying body...NOBODY. So if you hurt NRA, you hurt us all.

No problem. There are lots of other tax preparers out there. It's apparent that the corporations have to learn the hard way. Ask Citibank. Ask Kmart (gee, they're going out of business, aren't they?)

I say to you: SO WHAT if the dingleberries at the "Alliance for Justice" (Hah! Isn't THAT a misnomer!) say that the NRA is an extremist group? Are you aware of the very reason for the existence (I mean, other than what they're telling you?)of their group is to make more victims?

And they're starting with the very people who work the hardest to keep the lawless at bay. While the same people scream that there isn't enough being done against crime, they stab us in the back. Does this sound like the rational behavior of someone "reasonable" or the work of an extremist with unrealistic views of reality? You be the judge.

Et tu, Brute? Please tell me you have a classic education and understand that reference. Brutus was an Honorable Man, as I believe you are an Honorable Man, but you have been lied to, fed doctored statistics, and been allowed to be swayed by your emotions.

You will find that armed professionals, retired armed professionals, and firearms owners in general are a very serious NON BS type bunch...and we vote with our feet and with our money.

I'm telling it like it is. I'm headed somewhere else or I may just sit down and learn the tax law and take my chances before I spend another penny with you folks. Which is sad because your employee Steve is about the sharpest guy I know when it comes to tax preparation. I wonder how much I'd have to pay him to help me "off the clock" instead of putting another red cent into the pocket of a traitor.

That's right. To ally yourself with those who would disarm honest citizens amounts to treason pure and simple, and I don't think I am alone in my point of view.

Do not write me back. There is nothing you can say, no propaganda you can spew, no weak reason you may give, no excuse you can foster, that will even be listened to, much less sway my opinion. You see, I've been in the real world just a little too long, dealing with real people and real bad guys up close and personal. I do not have the luxury of sitting in an ivory tower and dreaming about fantasies that will not come true at the expense of my brothers of the badge. I am not in that ivory tower, which means the opinons of those who reside there hold little value to me.

So do what you will. I think you should know that after over 10 years, I am going back to Hickory Farms, because their CEO figured out that HCI (Handgun Control Inc...same boat as the "Alliance for Justice" in different packaging...same slime...different bag) was lying to them and using their name and logos as leverage to prove "corporate sponsorship" for their traitorous activities. So Hickory Farms dropped them like a bad habit. I must say, their summer sausage is as delicious as I remember it. I took great pains to ensure that I kept my promise to them; It wasn't difficult, since I love Hickory Farms' stuff anyhow, but I go out of my way to buy their product out of loyalty. I am not alone. There are many like me. Not just form letters sent out by the thousands. I am a real person, along with a lot of other real people who have kept silent and taken it up the tail pipe, trying to give those Ivory Tower folks their ideals while they tied our hands.

No more. Put up or shut up. Or don't you DARE complain when your 911 call gets put on hold because there aren't enough trained personnel to answer your call. You are doing it to yourself and those who rely upon you. You would almost think that you do not care, that you only pay lip service to keep people happy. Hmmm...

In breaking with the NRA, you align yourself in the camp of those who seek to allow us all to come to harm by removing the most effective means of defense, and what's worse, they pervert it to "for the sake of the children." That is truly sick. And you choose to follow their party line. Follow the logic.

If you choose to rescind your decision based upon factors that may include many other emails such as mine or a decline in revenue, do feel free to announce it. A lot of people, including myself, will be ready to return to our old friend, H&R Blockhead (as we fondly refer to you folks as) the moment you straighten up and fly right.

Now did anybody note that I requested that they NOT write me back? Did they even read what I wrote? Did I waste my time? I hope you did note it, they probably did not, and I probably did. Because they Wrote Me Back, and what's worse, they sent me the same form letter they sent HCI, severely insulting my intelligence.

Thank you for sharing your views with us. We have taken the matter very seriously.

H&R Block offers its products and services equally to all taxpayers. The company does not take a stand on social issues outside the realm of tax and financial services.

This tax season H&R Block entered an agreement with a marketing company to expand our ability to market our tax products and services. A number of organizations interpreted this agreement in a way that had H&R Block taking a particular side of a social issue - something our company does not do. Therefore, we are ending the agreement to remove ourselves from a debate we don't belong in and to prevent any outside group from using H&R Block to promote their agenda.

H&R Block's sole focus remains on helping all Americans with their tax and financial needs.

Did anyone besides me notice that the very thing they profess to do: "to prevent any outside group from using H&R block to promote their agenca", actually promotes HCI's agenda? Hello? Irony anyone?

Sure seems more like "To prevent anyone we don't think is politically correct from promoting their agenda."

Which means, De Facto, H&R Block is for gun control. The gun controllers love this, and I hate it.

Enough said. I have had my rant. Another irony is that as I was writing the letter to H&R block, I was eating the Hickory Farms Summer Sausage I'd bought...and let me tell you...it tasted TWICE as good as I remember!

David Gallandro
Former Surety Agent
Former United States Marine
Former Security Officer
Now nothing. Just me.

Does anybody doubt that H&R Block's stance is nothing less than actually taking sides without having the guts to say so? Am I missing something here? Or do they just not care?

I sent them an email too. The problem is they tried to have it both ways and that just makes them look like spineless corporate wimps who will back out of a business deal at the first sign of any opposition. It's not a good image.

They are entitled to run their business the way they want, and from their standpoint it makes sense to at least appear apolitical -- but once they had made a commitment to the NRA, they should have honored it. They would have looked better for it and wouldn't have flipped off four million people because of the puerile mewling of a small cadre of emotional imbeciles.

One indication of where they really stand would be whether they "post" their locations in states that provide for licensed CCW, but allow businesses to opt out. Texas would be a good place to check, since the required "unarmed victim zone" sign is rather prominent, and in two languages to boot. :) If they allow customers to CCW, what about their employees?

I don't mind them being truely neutral on the issue, but once they commited, even if through a third party, to an affiliations with NRA or any other group, they should stick by that for the length of the contract. After all, who wants a welcher and contract breaker doing their taxes. They might decide to break their contract with you, when it came time to face the IRS.

H&R is a rip off. They us terribly unqualified people to do nothing more than operate their tax software then charge lots for it.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.