Supreme Court Accepts Case on US Gun Maker’s Mexico Lawsuit

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to review Smith & Wesson and Interstate Arms’ appeal to dismiss a lawsuit from Mexico. The lawsuit accuses these companies of facilitating illegal arms trafficking to Mexican drug cartels.

The Supreme Court’s decision to hear the case follows an earlier ruling in which the Boston-based 1st US Circuit Court of Appeals allowed the lawsuit to proceed. This comes after a federal court in Boston initially rejected it, citing the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act.

The Mexican lawsuit alleges that these gun manufacturers have contributed to an “epidemic of violence” by marketing their products to cartels, seeking billions in damages and taking measures to curb the arms trade.

(With input from agencies.)