American gunmakers Smith & Wesson and Interstate Arms have avoided liability in Mexico’s lawsuit, thanks to a unanimous ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court. The lawsuit had accused the firms of aiding illegal firearms trafficking to drug cartels and fueling gun violence on the south side of the border.
The lawsuit, originally filed in Boston in 2021, argued that the gun companies deliberately maintained a distribution system that enabled “straw purchasers” to acquire weapons ultimately destined for Mexican cartels. Mexico also sought an unspecified amount in monetary damages and a court order to force the companies to take steps to “abate and remedy the public nuisance.”
However, the Supreme Court overturned a lower court’s decision that had allowed the lawsuit to proceed. Justice Elena Kagan, writing for the unanimous court, stated that Mexico’s complaint did not “plausibly plead” that the companies had “aided and abetted” unlawful sales, citing the 2005 Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act.
The outcome arrives at a delicate juncture for US-Mexican relations, marked by ongoing trade disputes and differing approaches to border control and drug trafficking. Mexico’s government has consistently highlighted the devastating impact of US-made firearms on its security and economic stability.