Kyle Busch has no interest in explaining why he carries a gun.
The driver of the #8 Chevy for Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series revealed last week that he was detained while traveling back from Mexico in January after authorities at the airport discovered a handgun in his bag:
“In late January, Samantha and I enjoyed a several day vacation in Mexico. When departing the country, my handgun was flagged during routine screening at the airport.
I have a valid concealed carry permit from my local authority and adhere to all handgun laws, but I made a mistake by forgetting it was in my bag.
Discovery of the handgun led to my detainment while the situation was resolved. I was not aware of Mexican law and had no intention of bringing a handgun into Mexico.
When it was discovered, I fully cooperated with the authorities, accepted the penalties, and returned to North Carolina.
I apologize for my mistake and appreciate the respect shown by all parties as we resolved the matter. My family and I consider this issue closed.”
While Busch did say that he “accepted the penalties,” there was no mention of what those penalties were. And although he may “consider this issue closed,” it wasn’t clear that Mexican authorities feel the same way.
The Prosecutor General’s Office of Mexico also released a statement (translated below) announcing the arrest and sentence of a Nevada man named “Kyle Thomas B” for carrying his “pistol-type weapon” along with hollow point bullets in the airport without a license.
The statement also announced that Busch had been sentenced to 3 years and 6 months in prison and fined the equivalent of US $1,100.
“According to the investigation folder, the arrest took place on January 27 of this year, when the man sentenced today was detained by elements of the Quintana Roo National Guard, derived from the direct signaling of private security personnel from the Airport. Cancun International, who are assigned to guard the platform of the FBO terminal for private flights.
The detainee, who is originally from the State of Nevada, intended to travel to the United States of America, but when passing his luggage through the RX of the platform, a caliber pistol-type firearm was detected inside. 380 with magazine stocked with six useful hollow point cartridges.
Due to the foregoing, the Agent of the Federal Public Ministry presented it before the Control Judge, on January 29 of this year, who described the detention as legal, linked to the process and through an abbreviated procedure issued a sentence.”
There’s no indication of how Busch would serve his sentence, or whether the prison time would be suspended, but he was obviously on the track in Los Angeles for the Busch Light Clash and is in Daytona this week gearing up for the Daytona 500 and not in a Mexican prison.
But when asked to elaborate on the incident and penalties during the Daytona 500 media day, Busch declined to speak any further about it, saying that the statement he released was all he was going to say:
“I made a statement on that earlier and that’s all that’ll be said about that topic.”
And when a reporter pressed Kyle on why he feels the need to carry a gun, Rowdy wasn’t having it.
Last year, Kyle was at the Mall of America in Minneapolis, Minnesota with his wife, Samantha and son, Brexton, when a gunman opened fire into a Nike store after an altercation.
Nobody was injured in the shooting, and Kyle’s wife posted on Instagram shortly after the incident that their family was all safe.
And when a reporter from the Associated Press asked Busch about the incident, he made clear that it played no part in his decision to carry a gun:
“No, I was a carrier before that.”
Busch says that he carries his firearm “into the places that you’re allowed to.”
But when the reporter asked why Busch carries a gun, Busch quickly dismissed the question:
“Doesn’t matter.”
Safe to say we know where Rowdy stands on the Second Amendment.
