Busch (Beer) resigns NRA membership

[diducmeb4]

One day after the U.S. Senate rejected a bill that would have expanded background checks on guns, one of St. Louis' most powerful and staunch supporters of gun rights ended his lifetime membership with the National Rifle Association (NRA).

In an email sent exclusively to NewsChannel 5's Leisa Zigman, Adolphus Busch IV, an heir to the Busch family fortune, asked the gun rights group to "immediately" remove his name from its membership roles.

An avid environmentalist and hunter, guns have been a part of Busch's life since he was a child.

"It's something you never forget being able to be in the outdoors with your father," Busch said in a 2005 interview with KSDK.

Busch, whose great-grandfather founded Anheuser-Busch, made clear his position on guns and the people who legally use them.

"Hunters put back everything they take out and more," he said at the time.

Now, the man who joined the NRA in 1975 is cutting ties.

In a letter addressed to NRA President David Keene, Busch writes, "It disturbs me greatly to see this rigid new direction of the NRA."

"...One only has to ask why the NRA reversed its original position on background checks. Was it not the NRA position to support background checks when Mr. LaPierre himself stated in 1999 that NRA saw checks as 'reasonable'?"

"...I fail to see how the NRA can disregard the overwhelming will of its members who see background checks as reasonable," Busch writes.

On its website, the NRA fiercely opposed the Senate background check legislation, calling the amendment "misguided." It's clear from Busch's email he does not agree.

"I am simply unable to comprehend how assault weapons and large capacity magazines have a role in your vision," he said. "The NRA I see today has undermined the values upon which it was established. Your current strategic focus clearly places priority on the needs of gun and ammunition manufacturers while disregarding the opinions of your 4 million individual members."

"One only has to look at the makeup of the 75-member board of directors, dominated by manufacturing interests, to confirm my point. The NRA appears to have evolved into the lobby for gun and ammunition manufacturers rather than gun owners."

NewsChannel 5 attempted to get comment from David Keene regarding Busch's letter, but we were told that he has yet to receive the letter and will not comment until he reads it.

http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/376098 ... hpt=us_bn9

[GeneFrenkle]

No big loss. Clearly, he didn't bother to read or understand (or care?) why the bill was against freedom.

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[UnderwaterMike]

Don't let the door hit ya...

[thekinetic]

Hey Busch your beer sucks anyway!

[Hocktl]

This from the man who said the company would never be bought on his watch.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_Busch_IV

On his watch he signed over a 156 year American owned business to a foreign interest. His history is plagued with homicide, drinking and driving, police chases and drug over doses in his residence. He is riding on the coat tails of his family who actually earned his fortune. The man has no credibility with me.

If you stop buying Bud you are hurting Inbev not this guy. While he probably does still have stock interests I don't think he has any clout in the company anymore. Just another silver spoon feed idiot with an opinion.

[milspecnsn]

Moron, who needs him...obviously belongs to the "2nd Amendment is only for hunting" crowd.

[DryBones]

Embargo on. Not that I drank much of their crap anyways!

[diducmeb4]

Yeah, I don't drink their stuff either. Prefer something that doesn't taste like it's watered down...

[Reverenddel]

Yup!

No "Busch Gardens" for me this year! BUUUUHHH-BYE!

[SHMIV]

Busch no longer owns the theme parks, either. From what I've gathered from nearly every Busch employee over the age of 25 (not counting theme park ride jocks and the like) Auggie Busch is a grade A tool.

I never did drink A-B products, anyway, and since Inbev bought them out, I've been less inclined to do business with them.

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[Jollyrogers66]

Dont drink Coors either, now I have a reason not to drink this crap.

[SpanishInquisition]

Having met Auggie at a Charlottesville drinkery back on the '90's. I can verify SHMIV's assessment.

Drybones, I agree. Embargo on! Let's show then who run Bartertown!

[DryBones]

there are just too many good, local, Virginia breweries to even bother with any of the big boys. The only ones I still support are Sam Adams and Harpoon. Both out of Boston and they make good beer. Not really Big Boys yet but Sam is getting there.

[Snakester]

No big loss here !

[Kreutz]

Canned or bottled piss is something no one should pay for anyway.

Mass produced American beer is the worst.

[ShotgunBlast]

Canned or bottled piss is something no one should pay for anyway.

Mass produced American beer is the worst.

Wait a sec. Aren't you going to support your old local favorite?



lol My grandfather in Schenectady loves that crap.

[gunderwood]

With friends like that, who needs enemies?

[GeneFrenkle]

OMG! Genesse creame ale! One drink and you'll the the gennie screamers! Thanks for the flashback. LOL

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[SHMIV]

I used to live near the Genesee brewery. One of my co-workers drank it exclusively. His truck was named "Ol' 12 Horse" after the brew. He was a former employee there. When he worked there, he lived in a motorhome that he kept parked on site, and would fill containers with beer from the break room.

I enjoy a Genesee beer from time to time.

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[Purdune]

Darn, won't make a darn difference that I won't buy Busch products from now on out. Would have had to buy them in the first place...