Cooper Arms founder pays for his donation to the Obama campaign...

[Gewehr98]

After the USA Today interview, it now appears that Dan Cooper has been asked to step down from the Cooper Arms board of directors, at least according to their website. 

It remains to be seen whether or not he will comply, but the company is understandably concerned about his campaign contributions to the Obama fund, and the repercussions to their business once the word got out. 

If they do oust him, I'd consider one of their rigs in 6.5x284 as a "Thank You" for keeping the faith. 

[KD5NRH]

If they do oust him, I'd consider one of their rigs in 6.5x284 as a "Thank You" for keeping the faith.

Great idea.   Send me one in .243 while you're at it.

[HankB]

Dan Cooper donated to Obama?

I was looking real hard at a Cooper rifle for my next acquisition . . . if there's a board member making Obama donations, I WILL scratch them off the list. (Sounds like Dan Cooper only plans on marketing to FUDDs, and will throw all other shooters under the train . . . you'd think he'd know better after the Zumbo fiasco.)

[MechAg94]

I could be wrong, but something in the back of my mind tells me that 6.5X284 would penetrate a kevlar vest.   

[Manedwolf]

In a portion of the interview that was not included in Tuesday's story, Cooper said, "I don't believe that what's being said about Obama and his policies about guns are accurate. I have had a conversation with the senator … he is a stanch supporter of the right to hunt and the right to bear arms."

He's either dumb as a rock, or just a FUDD.

Oh, and look who chimed in! Our favorite antigun front group!

"It's a really McCarthyism at its worst," said Bob Ricker, executive director of the American Hunters and Shooters Association, which has endorsed Obama. "That's really why our organization was formed, was to deal with this craziness. If you're a gun owner, but you have a contrary view to some of these wackos, they will go out and try to destroy you."

And last but not least, as a I keep saying over and over, DO NOT TRUST DEMOCRATS. No matter how "cool" they might seem at first, they will ALWAYS stab you in the back and be...Democrats.

Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer, a Democrat, said in a phone interview that he was disturbed by the backlash against Cooper.

"It's the silly season," Schweitzer said. "There are people who have partisan interests here, and they are using the gun issue. Three weeks from now these bloggers are going to wake up, look under their bed and see that their gun is still there."

The governor, who once described himself as a "gun-toting. .. kind of Democrat," said he is a "big supporter of Cooper Arms."

"I'll go anywhere in the country to help them sell their product," he said.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-10-30-gun-ceo-ousted_N.htm

[K Frame]

From Cooper's website (including some nice spacing problems!)


In response to the recent article highlighting Dan Cooper’s personal political donations, the board of directors, shareholders and employees of Cooper Firearms of Montana, Inc would like to issue the following statement.

The employees, shareholders and board of directors of Cooper Firearms of Montana do not share the personal political views of Dan Cooper.
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. It may also affect the employees and the shareholders of Cooper Firearms.

The board of directors has asked Mr. Cooper to resign as President of Cooper Firearms of Montana, Inc.
Daily operations will continue with the competent staff currently in place in Stevensville, MT producing the finest, most accurate rifles money can buy.

Dan Cooper has spent all of his working life producing the highest quality rifles built here in the USA. He started with nothing but the American Dream and built that into firearms company anyone would be proud of. We firmly believe Dan stands by the 2nd amendment.
We wish him all of the best in his future pursuits.

[Standing Wolf]

People who advocate socialist parasitism don't ever get my dollars.

[makattak]

Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer, a Democrat, said in a phone interview that he was disturbed by the backlash against Cooper.

"It's the silly season," Schweitzer said. "There are people who have partisan interests here, and they are using the gun issue. Three weeks from now these bloggers are going to wake up, look under their bed and see that their gun is still there."

The governor, who once described himself as a "gun-toting. .. kind of Democrat," said he is a "big supporter of Cooper Arms."

"I'll go anywhere in the country to help them sell their product," he said.

OF COURSE they will still be there in three weeks. (Obama won't even be president and the dems won't have total control of congress at that time!)

Some of us look a little farther down the road and are worried about 3 years or 3 decades from now....

[Balog]

Let's hope they get thoroughly Zumbo'ed until this back-stabbing prick is gone.

[Gewehr98]

Oops...

Looks like Mike's rules on what's political and what's not confuse even me.

My bad.   

[slingshot]

What the Montana governor says is irrelevant.  His interests are best served if Democrats win nationally and jobs continue in his state.  Something tells me that Cooper Firearms is probably doomed at this point or will be regardless of actions by the other Board Members or the employees.  It takes years to get past these things.  Guess the thing to do is buy an AR company like Remington.  In five years, if Cooper Firearms still survives, I'll buy one of their 22's.  I am also going to stop recommending them.  Capitalism at it's finest.

[Harold Tuttle]

with only 2800 rifles manufactured in 2006

Cooper is a pretty small operation that only sells "Sporting Purpose" looking arms

I kinda doubt they have that huge of a management board

[Brad Johnson]

2800 rifles at $500 a pop is $1.4 million.  That's not exactly chicken feed.

Brad

[RevDisk]

And last but not least, as a I keep saying over and over, DO NOT TRUST DEMOCRATS. No matter how "cool" they might seem at first, they will ALWAYS stab you in the back and be...Democrats.

::chuckle::   Hey, some of us are evil incarnate that also support the 2A.


Beautiful scroll work on some of those rifles.  If they do oust Cooper, I'll probably pick one up some day. 

[HankB]

2800 rifles at $500 a pop is $1.4 million.  That's not exactly chicken feed.

Brad

I think Cooper rifles cost quite a bit more than $500 each . . .

[Fly320s]

I'd say that a middle-of-the-pack rifle is about $1,500.

[Brad Johnson]

I think Cooper rifles cost quite a bit more than $500 each . . .

Was just using that as an example.  If they average $1500 each you are talking about a fair chunk of change.  I imagine the board of directors (which are probably also the majority stockholders) will be pretty up to speed on the industry.

Brad

[Harold Tuttle]

lots of money, but lots of expenses

I gather 5 days of fear can shake them into president-icide

Maybe they will start making AR-15s

[Gewehr98]

I doubt they'd make something as generic as an AR variant.

If you've ever had the chance to see a Cooper rifle up close, or get a chance to shoot one like I have, you'd understand why they command the prices they do.

They guarantee 1/2 MOA out of the box - not bad for a non-BR rig, with the metal sitting in real wood. 

I *will* have a Cooper in 6.5-284 someday.  It's not a matter of if, but when.  The board of directors telling Dan Cooper to take a long walk off a short dock may make that purchase decision sooner for me. 

[Tallpine]

The Democrats in the Montana senate have (at least) twice torpedoed "Vermont Carry" in our fine state. 

I have no use for any of them :(

[Bigjake]

I was considering one of their fine weapons for a family hierloom piece (or at least that was how i was justifying blowing a few grand on a pretty rifle!).

 As long as that idiot has anything to do with the company, I think I'll just have to spend my hard earned coin on something from Ronnie Barrett. 

HE gets it.

[BobR]

I used to stop in at Scheels in Great Falls everytime I went to Malmstrom AFB to shop. They had some very nice Cooper rifles. Their bargin rifle, in a synthetic stock would run about 1300 dollars for the 6.5x284. I am still sorry I didn't get one. But not as much now.

bob

[Don't care]

Anyone care to think that Dan Cooper was in collusion with the "future Obama Administration" and attempting to mimick the (now failed) policies of (the then owned by British Nationals) Smith and Wesson with it's agreement with the Clinton Administration?