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Mexico’s Lawsuit Against U.S. Gun Makers Doubtful to Proceed
The Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday in a controversial $10 billion lawsuit filed by Mexico against major U.S. firearm manufacturers, with justices appearing skeptical that the case should proceed.
Mexico claims companies like Smith & Wesson, Beretta, Colt, and Glock knowingly facilitate illegal gun trafficking across the border, fueling cartel violence. However, both liberal and conservative justices seemed doubtful the claims could overcome U.S. laws designed to protect gun makers from lawsuits when their products are used in crimes.
The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), enacted in 2005, shields firearms manufacturers from most civil litigation related to criminal misuse of their products. This law has been crucial in protecting American manufacturers that serve law-abiding hunters and sport shooters from costly litigation.
Justice Brett Kavanaugh expressed concern about the wider implications of Mexico’s legal theory, noting that many products — from baseball bats to prescription drugs — can be misused, and allowing such lawsuits could harm the U.S. economy.
Even liberal Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson observed that the lawsuit ultimately seeks “changes to the firearm industry” of the kind the shield law was designed to prevent.
Mexico has extremely restrictive gun laws, with only one legal gun store in the entire country. The Mexican government claims 70% of illegal weapons recovered at crime scenes originate from the United States, an assertion the gun industry disputes.
Gun manufacturers argue Mexico’s claims are baseless, emphasizing that they cannot be held responsible for criminal misuse of their products, especially across international borders. They maintain that Mexico’s enforcement of its own laws, not U.S. manufacturers, should be the focus for addressing cartel violence.
The case began in 2021 when Mexico filed suit in Massachusetts federal court. While a judge initially dismissed the case under the PLCAA, an appeals court revived it, finding it might fall under an exception allowing lawsuits when gun companies allegedly violate laws in their sales or marketing practices.
This same exception helped families of the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting secure a $73 million settlement from Remington, arguing the company violated state marketing laws. The Supreme Court’s ruling in the Mexico case could potentially narrow or close this legal pathway.
For American hunters and gun owners, the case raises concerns about potential price increases and reduced availability if manufacturers face significant financial pressure from litigation. Gun rights advocates view the lawsuit as an attempt to scapegoat U.S. companies for Mexico’s internal security challenges rather than addressing the root causes of cartel violence.
The Supreme Court is expected to issue its ruling by late June 2025.
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