U.S. gun manufacturers have petitioned the Supreme Court to hear their challenge against Mexico’s $10 billion lawsuit accusing them of facilitating firearms trafficking to drug cartels across the U.S.-Mexico border.
The companies, including Smith & Wesson Brands and Sturm, Ruger & Co, argue that the lower court erred in allowing the case to proceed, contending it falls under the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, which typically shields the industry from such lawsuits.
Initially dismissed by a trial court judge citing the aforementioned law, the case was revived by the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which ruled that Mexico’s claims fit within a narrow exception to the liability shield.
The companies assert that this decision contradicts past Supreme Court precedents and should not stand.
They argue against Mexico’s lawsuit, labeling it as inappropriate for an American court and warning against potential years of costly litigation that could result from foreign pressure.
Mexico, on the other hand, remains steadfast in its pursuit, with a legal adviser affirming the country’s commitment to follow up on the matter.
Mexico’s lawsuit, filed in 2021, alleges that the gun manufacturers knowingly contributed to the illegal trafficking of firearms into Mexico, exacerbating violence and insecurity.
The country contends that over 500,000 guns are smuggled annually from the U.S., with a significant portion linked to the companies named in the lawsuit.
The smuggling, Mexico claims, has had severe ramifications, including increased gun-related deaths, economic downturn, and escalated law enforcement costs. However, the companies deny any wrongdoing and challenge the basis of Mexico’s allegations.
