[Vision2020] Gun Executive Forced Out Over Support for Obama

[Tom Hansen]

>From today's (November 1, 2008) Spokesman Review -

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Gun executive forced out over support for Obama 
Matt Gouras 
November 1, 2008

HELENA – The board of directors for a small Montana gun manufacturer asked 
the company's president to resign after word that he supports Democratic 
presidential candidate Barack Obama led to calls on pro-gun Web sites to 
boycott the company's products.

Dan Cooper, who co-founded Cooper Firearms of Montana Inc., could not be 
reached for comment Friday. But he told USA Today on Thursday that he had 
resigned his post to protect the company's employees.

"When the Internet anger turned on these innocent people, I felt it was 
important to distance myself from the company so as not to cause any 
further harm," he said in a statement to the newspaper.
 
In a statement posted on its Web site early Friday but later removed, the 
Stevensville company said its employees, shareholders and board of 
directors do not share Cooper's political views. The executive was quoted 
in recent news stories as an Obama supporter, and has donated money to the 
campaign.

Word of Cooper's support for Obama spread on pro-gun Web sites, with some 
posting messages calling for a boycott of Cooper Firearms and others 
labeling the gun executive a traitor.

In its statement, the company said the board of directors asked Cooper to 
resign after it appeared the uproar over his support for Obama could 
affect employees and shareholders.

"Although we all believe everyone has a right to vote and donate as they 
see fit, it has become apparent that the fallout may affect more than just 
Mr. Cooper," the company said.

"We firmly believe Dan stands by the (Second) Amendment," it said.

Andrew Arulanandam, a spokesman for the National Rifle Association, said 
the controversy shows gun owners have a problem with Obama.

"I think the decision to terminate is an indicator of the level of 
distrust that gun owners have with Barack Obama," Arulanandam said.

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Seeya at the polls, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho
 
"We're a town of about 23,000 with 10,000 college students. The college 
students are not very active in local elections (thank goodness!)."

- Dale Courtney (March 28, 2007)


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