World

Supreme Court to decide Mexico's lawsuit against US gun makers

WASHINGTON, D.C.: The Supreme Court has said it will decide whether to halt a US$10 billion lawsuit filed by Mexico against major U.S. gun manufacturers, alleging that their business practices have contributed to widespread bloodshed in Mexico.

The gun manufacturers are seeking to overturn an appeals court ruling that allowed the lawsuit to proceed, despite broad legal protections for the firearm industry. The lawsuit had previously been dismissed by a federal judge on separate legal grounds, though Mexico retains the option to appeal.

Mexico claims that the companies knowingly sold weapons to traffickers who smuggled them into Mexico, where they fueled violence. The government estimates that 70 percent of trafficked weapons in Mexico originate from the United States.

The lawsuit targets well-known manufacturers, including Smith & Wesson, Beretta, Colt, and Glock. The gun makers argue that Mexico has failed to show the industry intentionally allowed weapons to be used by cartels, accusing Mexico of trying to pressure gunmakers into adopting gun-control measures.

Originally filed in 2021, the lawsuit was initially dismissed by a district court citing legal protections for gun manufacturers against liability for criminal use of firearms. However, the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals revived the case under an exception to that law. The gunmakers appealed the ruling, asserting they had adhered to lawful practices and that the case did not belong in U.S. courts.

In August, U.S. District Judge F. Dennis Saylor in Boston again dismissed the case against six of the eight companies, ruling that Mexico had not provided sufficient evidence linking those companies’ activities in Massachusetts to any suffering in Mexico caused by guns.

Nevertheless, some claims are still pending, and the gunmakers argue that if the 1st Circuit ruling is allowed to stand, it could have long-lasting implications for the industry.

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