[Vision2020] Gun Executive Forced Out Over Support for Obama

[Sunil Ramalingam]

That's a shame.  Oh well, if I can ever afford one I'll get a used Cooper .22, not a new one.

Sunil

> To: vision2020 at moscow.com
> From: thansen at moscow.com
> Date: Sat, 1 Nov 2008 15:17:51 +0000
> Subject: [Vision2020] Gun Executive Forced Out Over Support for Obama
> 
> >From today's (November 1, 2008) Spokesman Review -
> 
> --------------------------------------------------
> 
> 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.
> 
> --------------------------------------------------
> 
> 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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> 
> 
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