Bluestem Prairie last wrote about Minnesota Gun Rights January 12 in Berserk fundraising letter from Minnesota Gun Rights aims to scare you out of your money. Our lede:
Over the years, Bluestem Prairie has covered the peculiar saga of the Minnesota Gun Rights organization in posts such as Sixteen pro-Second Amendment MN House members disavow Minnesota Gun Rights and A field guide to 2018 MN 2nd Amendment rallies. . . .
Over at Fox 9, Theo Keith reported in Minnesota gun group says it's a nonprofit, but was revoked on the Thursday evening news that there's more sketchiness in MGR's fundraising than just rhetorical excess:
Minnesota Gun Rights, a group that promotes itself as a registered nonprofit, had its tax-exempt status revoked in 2016 and hasn’t been reinstated, a FOX 9 investigation has found.
The group’s nonprofit status is the latest question to be raised about the group’s operations in Minnesota. For years, lawmakers and other pro-gun organizations have accused the organization of taking donations while doing little to advance the cause of gun owners.
Ben Dorr, the group’s political director, initially told FOX 9 that Minnesota Gun Rights is an active nonprofit and said questions about the issue were “fake news.” But later, he and his brother Chris acknowledged that they had not filed the proper forms with the Internal Revenue Service and would correct the issue.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison’s office issued a Feb. 6 inquiry requesting that the group register with the office or cite an exemption.
“It has come to the attention of this office that Minnesota Gun Rights may be soliciting charitable contributions in Minnesota without being registered as required by the Minnesota Charitable Solicitation Act,” wrote Julie Brengman, the attorney general’s charities registrar.
Dorr brothers’ unique twist
Minnesota Gun Rights is part of a network of pro-gun groups operating in 10 states. The Dorr brothers – Ben, Chris and Aaron – are connected with at least six of them.
The brothers operate with a unique twist: they criticize Republican lawmakers for being anti-gun and say other pro-gun groups like the NRA are soft.
During a Feb. 2 rally at the Minnesota State Capitol, where Democrats have proposed stricter gun restrictions this legislative session, supporters held signs calling GOP state Sen. Scott Jensen a “Republican In Name Only” and comparing Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka with children’s TV host Fred Rogers. . . .
Uffda. Check out the rest of Keith's story at Fox 9.
Screengrab: From the scan of the envelope a friend sent us along with the berserk letter. Read more about the fundraising letter in Berserk fundraising letter from Minnesota Gun Rights aims to scare you out of your money.
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