Supreme Court Shields Gun Companies as Mexico's Lawsuit Fails
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled against Mexico's lawsuit accusing American gun companies of aiding illegal arms trafficking to drug cartels. The court emphasized the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, which shields gun manufacturers from liability. Mexico sought damages but the case was dismissed.
In a decisive ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed Mexico's lawsuit against two American gun companies, insulating them from accusations of abetting illegal firearms trafficking to Mexican drug cartels. The unanimous decision, penned by Justice Elena Kagan, reversed a lower court's previous nod to Mexico's complaint.
Central to the court's judgment was the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, a U.S. statute safeguarding gun manufacturers from liability for crimes involving their products. The ruling underscored that Mexico's allegations lacked sufficient evidence of intentional assistance in unlawful gun sales.
Mexico had aimed to hold firearms maker Smith & Wesson and distributor Interstate Arms accountable, accusing them of fueling violence via a lax distribution network. Despite the setback, Mexico's government vows to persist in curbing arms trafficking using all legal and diplomatic avenues.
(With inputs from agencies.)
Google News