A lawsuit filed by Mexico against six out of the eight American gun manufacturers accused of fueling firearms trafficking across the U.S.-Mexico border has been dismissed by a Massachusetts District Court Judge. The $10 billion lawsuit alleged that these companies were selling weapons that were being smuggled into Mexico, contributing to the country’s crime rates.
The Mexican government argued that these gun manufacturers were undermining Massachusetts’s strict gun laws and should be held responsible for the impact on Mexico’s economy and law enforcement efforts. Despite claims that over 500,000 guns are illegally trafficked to Mexico from the United States annually, the Judge found insufficient evidence to link the activities of the defendant companies to gun crimes in Mexico.
As a result, the lawsuit was dismissed against Sturm Ruger & Company, Barrett Firearms Manufacturing, Glock, Colt’s Manufacturing Company, Century International Arms, and Beretta U.S.A. Corp. Two defendants, Smith & Wesson Brands and wholesaler Witmer Public Safety Group, remain in the case.
The Judge highlighted jurisdictional issues, stating that Mexico’s claims did not sufficiently connect the defendant companies’ activities in Massachusetts to the crimes in Mexico. This led to the dismissal of the lawsuit against the majority of the defendants.
Despite the setback, Mexico’s Foreign Relations Department expressed intentions to pursue legal options, including appealing the decision or refiling the case in other courts. The industry trade group National Shooting Sports Foundation welcomed the decision, hoping for further dismissal of the case by the U.S. Supreme Court.
The lawsuit, initially filed in 2021, faced challenges due to the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), a U.S. law that shields gun manufacturers from liability for the criminal misuse of firearms. After a federal judge initially dismissed the case based on the PLCAA in 2022, the First Circuit Court of Appeals revived the lawsuit in January 2023.
Overall, the legal battle between Mexico and American gun manufacturers continues, with ongoing debates over jurisdiction, liability, and the impact of firearms trafficking on crime rates in Mexico.
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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