Sample letter to legislators protesting war taxes

Dear (Senator/Representative/President):

As a follower of Jesus Christ, who said "Love your enemies" (Matthew 5:44), I do not support any war effort or any use of my tax money to pay for killing people.

I am conscientiously opposed to paying my hard-earned money to fund military violence. In Fiscal Year 2005, approximately 31 cents out of every federal income tax dollar will pay for current military purposes. That is almost $600 billion. In contrast, in 2004 only $41 billion was spent on children's health, $34 billion on K-12 education, $10 billion on humanitarian/foreign aid and $7 billion on Head Start.

Since 1940, U.S. law has allowed conscientious objectors to military participation to perform alternative service rather than be conscripted into the military. This law should be extended to allow alternative service for the tax dollars of conscientious objectors. I and many other conscientious objectors see no moral difference between killing and paying for someone else to kill. As a result of there being no legal alternative, many conscientious objectors find that the only way they can follow their consciences is to refuse to pay that portion of their tax that goes to the military.

I long for a way to pay my taxes that does not violate my conscience against participating in war. I urge you to enact the Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund Bill (H.R. 2631 in the 109th Congress). This Bill would allow conscientious objectors to military participation to pay their federal income, gift and estate taxes into a fund earmarked for nonmilitary governmental purposes only.

Thank you for considering my request. I have enclosed a similar letter, addressed to the IRS, with my 2005 income tax return.

Sincerely,


[your signature, if mailing]

[your typed name, if mailing]