Gun executive forced out over support for Obama

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.