Mexico’s concerted effort to combat illegal gun trafficking through a lawsuit against American manufacturers has hit a significant wall at the U.S. Supreme Court. The highest court unanimously struck down the suit against Smith & Wesson and Interstate Arms, which had accused them of aiding the flow of firearms to drug cartels.
The lawsuit, initiated in Boston, argued that the gun companies deliberately facilitated a system where “straw purchasers” acquired weapons ultimately destined for Mexican cartels. Mexico also accused the companies of unlawfully designing and marketing “military-grade” weapons to drive up demand among cartels.
While a lower court had previously allowed the case to advance, the Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, concluded that Mexico’s complaint did not plausibly plead that the companies had “aided and abetted” unlawful sales. Justice Elena Kagan’s opinion emphasized the robust protections of the 2005 Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act.
This legal outcome arrives during a sensitive period for U.S.-Mexican relations, characterized by ongoing disagreements over trade tariffs, drug trafficking, and migrant flows. Mexico has consistently highlighted the devastating impact of US-made firearms on its security and economic stability.