I always preferred the other H&R anyway.
Posted on 03/12/2002 12:27:20 PM PST by pabianice
For Immediate Release
March 12, 2002
Contacts: Julie Bernstein
Kristin Becker
(202) 822-6070
H&R Block Severs Ties with National Rifle Association
Washington, D.C.-In a stunning defeat for the gun lobby, H&R Block, the nation's largest tax preparation firm, today severed a controversial marketing agreement it had entered into with the National Rifle Association (NRA). H&R Block's withdrawal from the program came as a result of widespread protests spearheaded by the Alliance for Justice's Gun Industry Watch, and supported by the Million Mom March united with the Brady Campaign and the Mid-Atlantic Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence.
"Let this send a loud message to other corporate partners of the NRA," said Alliance for Justice President Nan Aron. "If you support the NRA, we will work to make sure that your employees, customers, and all of your stakeholders know that you support an extremist gun lobby that is out of step with mainstream America."
"The termination of this agreement is a tremendous victory for everyone who was outraged that a reputable business like H&R Block would support an extremist organization like the NRA," said Michael D. Barnes, president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence united with the Million Mom March. "Marketing your products to a specific group of people is an accepted business practice, but H&R Block crossed the line when it agreed to pay royalties to the NRA."
"Corporations doing business with the NRA should be very concerned by the large efforts of hundreds of gun safety activists that came out in defiance of H&R Block's agreement with the NRA," said Bryan Miller of the Mid-Atlantic Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence.
H&R Block had entered into an agreement with a marketing company called Memberdrive to market its products and services to NRA members. However, the agreement also provided for "royalties" paid by H&R Block, through Memberdrive, to the NRA. According an H&R Block advertisement that ran in the March issue of America's First Freedom, the NRA's magazine, H&R Block "will make a contribution to the NRA for every Member who becomes a new customer." Memberdrive's Senior Vice President of Marketing is Susan LaPierre, wife of NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre.
Gun Industry Watch, a student network, first exposed the agreement in late February, staging a protest outside of an H&R Block outlet in Washington, DC, and planning dozens more. Over the past two weeks, thousands of activists including those from the Million Mom March and the Brady Campaign joined with Gun Industry Watch and called, faxed and e-mailed H&R Block to express their objections to this agreement and to educate the company on the extremist positions that the NRA has taken in the past. With Gun Industry Watch recruiting students, Million Mom March recruiting its members and support from the Mid-Atlantic Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence, protests of H&R Block offices in more than 50 cities had been planned for mid-March. These protests have now been called off.
"This victory shows the power of the gun control movement's grassroots," said Aron. "When you engage students and moms together, it's a potent combination."
"H&R Block now understands that, by areeing to this royalty scheme, it was furthering the reckless political agenda of the NRA's leadership," said Mr. Barnes. "Congratulations to Gun Industry Watch and to all of our Million Mom March activists and members for making their voices heard."
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I'm sure this was the usual litany of lies about
cop killer bullets, udetectable plastic guns,
gun shows (tupperware parties for criminals),
the selling of machine guns to toddlers and
whatever other nonsense they could fabricate.
Yeah. We used them for quite a few years but just last month decided to use a local EA to prepare out returns. He's a lot more knowledgeable and a bit cheaper, and closer to the house to boot.
Maybe I'll tell them I left because of their decision. It won't be true but they won't know that.
This bonehead decision caving to the gun-grabbers should merely hasten H&R Block's demise.
Sirs,
I can't tell you how sad I was to hear the Brady's and the Million Mom gloating over your killing the NRA co-marketing deal.
I thought H&R would appreciate the Constitution, and the Second Ammendment. I'm hoping you don't think the NRA is an extremist organization like the gun grabbers say.
Regardless, I will be looking for someone else to do my taxes that appreciates America.
You guys should have checked with Dell or Smith & Wesson before pissing on the people who believe in the 2nd Ammendment.
TC Rider
Apex, NC
I called my local H&R shop and the woman on the phone was nearly in tears. She kept saying that they were just a franchise. I told her she should reconsider who she does business with, or, call the home office and complain.
"Let this send a loud message to other corporate partners of the NRA," said Alliance for Justice President Nan Aron.
Join us Tuesday, from 7 to 8 p.m. CST with your questions.
Could be fun ...
To whom it may concern:
I wish to express my strong displeasure with your corporate decision to sever you relationship with the National Rifle Association as reported by Gun Industry Watch. As a Life Member of the National Rifle Association and longtime supporter of our Constitutional rights, I was gratified at your corporations courageous stand in support of the Bill of Rights, and had planned on retaining H&R Block for my tax needs.
Please be advised that under no circumstances will I now knowingly patronize any aspect of your organization, and that a great number of my fellow Americans are of a similar opinion. Your stance has been publicized on numerous Internet discussion sites, and I am certain that the displeasure with your week-kneed corporate response to a minority of malcontents will not stand your organization in good stead among a sizeable potential market of affluent firearms enthusiasts and supporters of the National Rifle Association (an organization with over four million dues paying annual and life members).
Regards,
*******
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