US judge dismisses majority of Mexican lawsuit against gun manufacturers

Boston U.S. District Judge Dennis Saylor dismissed six of Mexico’s eight claims against U.S. gun manufacturers accused of facilitating the trafficking of firearms to drug cartels, citing jurisdictional issues. Despite the setback, the Mexican government said it will continue to pursue legal action against the six acquitted gun manufacturers.

The judge dismissed the lawsuits against Barrett Firearms Manufacturing, Colt’s Manufacturing Company, Century International Arms, Beretta USA, Sturm Ruger RGR.N and Glock, arguing that their ties to the allegations were “definite at best.” Saylor also noted that Mexico had failed to show that the firearms sold by these companies directly harmed the country.

The Mexican Foreign Ministry announced that the government will explore additional legal measures, including a possible appeal, to hold these six companies accountable. The statement also stressed that the lawsuit against two other companies, Smith & Wesson and Interstate Arms, is still ongoing. “This ruling does not affect the case against these two companies, nor does it release the other six from possible civil liability,” the statement said. proposition clarified.

What was Mexico’s lawsuit against gun manufacturers about?

On August 4, 2021, the Mexican government announced that it was suing several U.S. manufacturers for promoting access to high-powered weapons without strict regulations. According to the lawsuit, more than 500,000 firearms are smuggled from the United States to Mexico each year, with more than 68% of them coming from these companies, MBN reported.

The Mexican government has argued that the lack of regulation contributes to illegal arms trafficking in the country, linked to massacres and violent incidents. According to authorities, cross-border arms trafficking is responsible for more than 350,000 murders, most of which have been committed by organized crime.

Mexican authorities have stressed that they respect the rights and freedoms of U.S. citizens and therefore the lawsuit is not challenging the right to bear or sell arms, but rather the lack of gun control that has harmed thousands of Mexicans. The lawsuit’s main argument is that these companies know their guns are being traded and used in illegal activities and despite this, the companies promote their sales and allow buyers to acquire the guns without verifying their background. The National Shooting Sports Foundation Inc (NSSF) rejected Mexico’s claims, saying that “the government is responsible for widespread crime and corruption within its own borders.”

In September 2022, the U.S. judge assigned to the case, Cindy Jorgenson, dismissed the case. However, in March 2023, Mexican authorities appealed the ruling. The Mexican government also has an ongoing case against U.S. arms sales at the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. While this case is not against U.S. arms manufacturers or the U.S. government, the court is expected to issue an advisory opinion so it can be used in other cases.