Mexico’s lawsuit against several gun manufacturers has been completely rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court. This case, which began in 2021, targeted eight gun makers, but a district court dismissed claims against six of them. The Supreme Court’s decision means that Mexico’s arguments did not hold up under legal scrutiny.
The Mexican government claimed that these manufacturers knowingly supplied firearms to dealers who then sold them illegally to traffickers in Mexico. They argued that the companies failed to control their distribution networks, allowing these illegal sales to happen. However, the Supreme Court found that Mexico’s case did not convincingly show that the gun manufacturers were involved in these unlawful transactions. The court noted that while it is likely that some guns are trafficked to Mexico, the government did not provide specific evidence linking the manufacturers to those sales.
This case marked the first time the Supreme Court addressed the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), which protects gun manufacturers from being held liable for crimes committed with their products. During a hearing in March, justices expressed doubt about the validity of Mexico’s claims, suggesting that the lawsuit lacked the necessary details to be taken seriously.
According to reports, between 200,000 and 500,000 firearms made in the U.S. are trafficked into Mexico each year. Almost half of the guns found at crime scenes in Mexico come from American manufacturers, highlighting the ongoing issues of gun violence and trafficking in the region.