Supreme Court Blocks Mexico’s Lawsuit Alleging U.S. Gunmakers Fueled Cartel Violence

In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court blocked a $10 billion lawsuit filed by Mexico against major U.S. firearm manufacturers, alleging their business practices contributed to cartel violence. The ruling cited U.S. laws that protect gunmakers from liability when their products are used in crimes. The court found Mexico’s claims lacked evidence that the companies knowingly allowed guns to be trafficked into the country.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum mentioned another lawsuit against gun shops in Arizona and expressed interest in the outcome. The 2021 lawsuit targeted leading gun companies such as Smith & Wesson, Beretta, Colt, and Glock, alleging they profited from weapons smuggled into Mexico by drug cartels.

Mexico has strict gun laws, with only one legal firearms store, yet many weapons are illegally brought in by cartels. The lawsuit contends that U.S. companies were aware their firearms were being sold to traffickers for smuggling into Mexico. The companies deny the allegations, arguing the lawsuit fails to prove their responsibility for the violence caused by a small number of individuals using their products.

The case had been dismissed by a federal judge under a law shielding gun companies from most civil suits but was revived by an appeals court. The exception under this law has been raised in other cases, including those related to mass shootings. Despite the Supreme Court’s decision, advocates like David Pucino from the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence emphasize the importance of survivors having their day in court.