Karl J. Bray was a political activist and co-founder of the
National Libertarian Party.
A charismatic libertarian leader and
outspoken tax rebel, he served as an early member of the Libertarian
National Committee, then in 1974 was the Libertarian candidate for
U.S. Senate in his home state of Utah, running against opponent Jake
Garn.
It was Karl's sincere conviction that the federal income tax
was unconstitutional.
He had done considerable research, published
pamphlets and given speeches centered around this topic. After losing
the election he was arrested and convicted by the IRS over tax
issues. He took the case all the way to the Supreme
Court.
He died soon after contracting an
aggressive form of cancer in federal prison. Karl Bray's headstone in
the Provo City Cemetery is inscribed "THE LIBERTARIAN TAX
REBEL". The Karl J. Bray Memorial Award for Activism is
presented in his honor by the Libertarian Party of California to
outstanding activists in their state.
Article published in Reason Magazine in 1976, now republished.
Taxes are Revolting
Karl J. Bray from the April 1976 issue
Karl Jack Bray, the Libertarian Tax Rebel
