Tax Payer Sponsored Terrorism?                                                                             By:  Jason Van Dyke            Whenever People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) runs the  latest of their polarizing political campaigns, nobody is particularly  shocked by the groups audacity.  The high profile stunts performed by  this group range from recruiting pop culture celebrities to run  advertising campaigns to committing acts of indecent exposure to  protest the wearing of fur.  Many have been deceived into believing  that PETA is nothing more than another political group standing up  animals.  After all, many Americans keep dogs and cats as pets and are  nauseated by the thought of anyone abusing their precious Fido or  Fluffy.  However, the truth about PETA is far more sinister.          A simple visit to the groups website (www.peta.org) reveals the  warped thinking of this organization.  In defining its purpose as an  animal rights organization, PETA states its belief "that animals are  not ours to use for food, clothing, entertainment, or [medical]  experimentation."  The FAQ continues by comparing the use of animals,  as food for instance, is like enslaving African-Americans and  battering women.  "Helping animals," they say, "is not any more or  less important than helping human beings."  As if these sections are  not revealing enough, the FAQ questions the millions of dollars in  property damage caused by ALF (Animal Liberation Front).  PETA  responds by explaining that throughout history people, such as those  involved in the Underground Railroad and French Revolution, have  broken the law to fight injustice.          What PETA fails to mention is that ALF, and its sister organization  ELF, are considered the top domestic terrorist threats in the United  States.  However, PETA's 1999 tax returns indicate a $2,000 donation  to a former ALF spokesperson and its 2001 tax returns indicate a  $1,500 donation to ELF.  PETA has contributed over $70,000 to the  legal defense of a convicted arsonist responsible for fire-bombing a  medical research laboratory at Michigan State University.  Those  figures are simply from the organization's tax returns from the past  decade.  The Center for Consumer Freedom believes PETA has donated  over $150,000 toward the legal defense of domestic terrorists while  spending less that 1% of its budget actually caring for animals.  PETA's leadership continues promote such terrorist activity on their  website.            The real crime is PETA's status as a tax exempt organization.  Under the Internal Revenue Code, PETA is indistinguishable from  schools and churches for federal income tax purposes.  The result?  PETA is permitted to promote domestic terrorism at the expense of  every American taxpayer.  Few, if any, of us would approve if our  government gave tax relief or an annual subsidy to a foreign terrorist  group like Al-Quaida.  If our government is serious about thwarting  terrorism is should stop distinguishing between domestic and foreign  terrorist activity.  The time has come for us to stop subsidizing PETA  and start holding it accountable for its actions.   _______________________  Jason Van Dyke is a resident of Gulfport, Florida.  He holds a  bachelors degree in Politics from the University of Dallas and is  currently pursuing his Juris Doctor at Stetson University College of  Law.