Freedom Alliance is dedicated to freedom. Which means it's dedicated to our amazing combat veterans. Which means it invites those veterans, especially the ones spooked by "loud noises and crowds," to hunt doves, the universal symbol of peace and spirituality, and shoot dozens of the delicate winged creatures to death.

The nonprofit—founded by Oliver North in 1990 "to advance the American heritage of freedom by honoring and encouraging military service"—is a favorite of North's Fox News pal Sean Hannity, even though it's been criticized by charity trackers and some conservatives for making millions in donations disappear. (That may have something to do with the fact that much of its money is handled by a conservative bagman who once managed North's Iran-Contra legal defense fund.)

But Freedom Alliance has finally found a tangible way to give back to combat vets, some of whom may have been traumatized by their live-fire experiences. According to a post published today on the nonprofit's site, it worked with a retired Republican state senator to organize a dove massacre for some needy veterans on his "estate" late last summer (emphasis added):

Freedom Alliance historically participates in the U.S. Tennis Open in New York City, bringing along several veterans and their family members. As much fun as that is, many combat service members have an aversion to loud noises and crowds. This year, we decided to attach a couple of days in the country to the end of our New York trip, as a way to extend the recreation and decompress from the fast pace of city life.

Porter Hopkins, a Korean War veteran who served in the Maryland legislature, owns a beautiful property in Cambridge, Maryland. Mr. Hopkins was kind enough to invite Freedom Alliance to a dove hunt on his farm the weekend of our New York trip.

The troops included "Denny, a soldier who was wounded during a convoy in Iraq" and an attendee of previous Freedom Alliance dove shoots who "was keen to come again" to repeatedly shoot the one genus of gamefowl that signifies peace and love on earth.

Freedom Alliance declared Operation Dove Kill an unqualified success:

The troops very much enjoyed their late-afternoon trigger time, when the doves descended as the day's heat began to melt away. Their time in the outdoors was therapeutic and inspiriting.

No word on how many noble doves sacrificed themselves, but it doubtlessly helped this small handful of former soldiers, and was well worth whatever it cost out of the nonprofit's $24.5 million in assets.

[Photo credits: FreedomAlliance.org]