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The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday unanimously dismissed a landmark lawsuit filed by the Mexican government against American gun manufacturers, dealing a significant blow to efforts to hold gun makers accountable for cross-border violence fueled by illicit firearms.
In an opinion authored by Justice Elena Kagan, the court ruled that federal law — specifically the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) of 2005 — shields gun companies from civil liability, even in cases brought by foreign governments over crimes committed outside the United States.
“Mexico’s complaint does not plausibly allege that the defendant manufacturers aided and abetted gun dealers’ unlawful sales of firearms to Mexican traffickers,” Kagan wrote.
“We have little doubt that, as the complaint asserts, some such sales take place — and that the manufacturers know they do. But still, Mexico has not adequately pleaded what it needs to.”
The lawsuit, filed in 2021, accused gun makers including Smith & Wesson, Colt, Glock, Beretta, and Ruger of knowingly contributing to cartel violence by selling firearms to dealers who allegedly resell weapons to traffickers. Mexico argued the manufacturers were not shielded by PLCAA because they “aided and abetted” criminal conduct.
Mexico was seeking up to $10 billion in damages, claiming that U.S.-made firearms are routinely recovered at crime scenes across Mexico — weapons used in cartel murders, kidnappings, and drug operations.
A federal judge initially dismissed the case, but the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals revived it last year, prompting the gun industry to appeal to the Supreme Court.
Gun Industry, Advocates Respond
Lawyers for the gun makers hailed the decision as a validation of the legal protections Congress enacted to shield firearm manufacturers from being held liable for the criminal misuse of their products.
“Our client makes a legal, constitutionally protected product that millions of Americans buy and use,” said Noel Francisco, attorney for Smith & Wesson.
“We are gratified that the Supreme Court agreed we are not legally responsible for criminals misusing that product to hurt people, much less smuggling it to Mexico to be used by drug cartels.”
But advocates for gun control and attorneys representing Mexico expressed frustration, saying the ruling demonstrates the need to repeal or amend PLCAA, which has long served as a legal barrier to civil lawsuits against the gun industry.
“This is the clearest evidence yet that the gun industry’s special interest get-out-of-court-free card must be revoked,” said Jonathan Lowy, president of Global Action on Gun Violence and a lead attorney in the case.
Broader Political and Cross-Border Implications
The case comes amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and Mexico, especially following President Donald Trump’s re-election and his administration’s crackdown on undocumented immigration and cross-border crime. Trump has repeatedly linked drug cartels and gang violence in Mexico to his domestic policy agenda.
Democrats in Congress have introduced legislation aimed at reducing gun trafficking to Mexico, citing estimates that more than 200,000 firearms are smuggled south of the border annually. Mexico has argued that U.S. gun laws directly fuel its violence, while Trump officials maintain that Mexico must improve its own internal security and enforcement.
While the Supreme Court ruling effectively ends this lawsuit, legal analysts believe it could intensify calls for reforming gun industry protections, especially as gun violence and international trafficking continue to rise.
The Mexican government has not said whether it plans to file new claims or pursue other legal avenues following the ruling.
