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That's a shame. Oh well, if I can ever afford one I'll get a used Cooper .22, not a new one.<br><br>Sunil<br><br>> To: vision2020@moscow.com<br>> From: thansen@moscow.com<br>> Date: Sat, 1 Nov 2008 15:17:51 +0000<br>> Subject: [Vision2020] Gun Executive Forced Out Over Support for Obama<br>> <br>> >From today's (November 1, 2008) Spokesman Review -<br>> <br>> --------------------------------------------------<br>> <br>> Gun executive forced out over support for Obama <br>> Matt Gouras <br>> November 1, 2008<br>> <br>> HELENA – The board of directors for a small Montana gun manufacturer asked <br>> the company's president to resign after word that he supports Democratic <br>> presidential candidate Barack Obama led to calls on pro-gun Web sites to <br>> boycott the company's products.<br>> <br>> Dan Cooper, who co-founded Cooper Firearms of Montana Inc., could not be <br>> reached for comment Friday. But he told USA Today on Thursday that he had <br>> resigned his post to protect the company's employees.<br>> <br>> "When the Internet anger turned on these innocent people, I felt it was <br>> important to distance myself from the company so as not to cause any <br>> further harm," he said in a statement to the newspaper.<br>> <br>> In a statement posted on its Web site early Friday but later removed, the <br>> Stevensville company said its employees, shareholders and board of <br>> directors do not share Cooper's political views. The executive was quoted <br>> in recent news stories as an Obama supporter, and has donated money to the <br>> campaign.<br>> <br>> Word of Cooper's support for Obama spread on pro-gun Web sites, with some <br>> posting messages calling for a boycott of Cooper Firearms and others <br>> labeling the gun executive a traitor.<br>> <br>> In its statement, the company said the board of directors asked Cooper to <br>> resign after it appeared the uproar over his support for Obama could <br>> affect employees and shareholders.<br>> <br>> "Although we all believe everyone has a right to vote and donate as they <br>> see fit, it has become apparent that the fallout may affect more than just <br>> Mr. Cooper," the company said.<br>> <br>> "We firmly believe Dan stands by the (Second) Amendment," it said.<br>> <br>> Andrew Arulanandam, a spokesman for the National Rifle Association, said <br>> the controversy shows gun owners have a problem with Obama.<br>> <br>> "I think the decision to terminate is an indicator of the level of <br>> distrust that gun owners have with Barack Obama," Arulanandam said.<br>> <br>> --------------------------------------------------<br>> <br>> Seeya at the polls, Moscow.<br>> <br>> Tom Hansen<br>> Moscow, Idaho<br>> <br>> "We're a town of about 23,000 with 10,000 college students. The college <br>> students are not very active in local elections (thank goodness!)."<br>> <br>> - Dale Courtney (March 28, 2007)<br>> <br>> <br>> ---------------------------------------------<br>> This message was sent by First Step Internet.<br>> http://www.fsr.com/<br>> <br>> <br></body>
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