April 10, 2006
To the Internal Revenue Service:
I support my country in all its peaceful endeavors, but for reasons of conscience and religious faith I do not support my country in its preparation for war and in war making. I am deeply troubled by the fact that about half of the federal tax that I owe the government is budgeted for military purposes. My payment of this tax enables my country to buy the tools and manpower to kill my fellow man. I am working for passage of the Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund bill that would enable pacifists to pay their full taxes without paying toward war.
As a Quaker and a pacifist and a parent, I have considered my personal responsibility to God and my country and my family. I am conscientiously unable to support any war and the current war is certainly no exception. For these reasons, the enclosed check is $25.00 less than the amount my wife and I owe the government according to line 75 on our Form 1040. A check for this amount of refused tax has been sent to UNICEF for the support of needy children around the world.
Paul and Fran Sheldon
