Gun Manufacturers Officially Cleared Following SCOTUS Decision on Cartel Violence Lawsuit
U.S. Supreme Court halts $10 billion legal action initiated by Mexico, accusing American firearm manufacturers of inciting cartel-related violence.
In a dramatic turn of events, the United States Supreme Court (SCOTUS) has blocked a whopping $10 billion lawsuit filed by Mexico against top American firearm manufacturers over their part in fueling brutal cartel violence in the country.
This verdict, handed out unanimously, dismisses the case under the U.S. laws that provide broad protection for gunmakers from being held liable for crimes committed with their products.
Prominent manufacturers such as Smith & Wesson welcomed the decision after a lower court allowed the suit to proceed under an exception when the companies themselves are accused of illegally breaching laws.
However, Mexico sought to push the case further, claiming it was still in its infancy. The suit initially surfaced in August 2021, targeting major players like Smith & Wesson, Beretta, Colt, and Glock, among others.
Mexico maintains restrictive firearm laws and has just one licensed store for acquiring guns. Regrettably, thousands of guns find their way into the country each year, courtesy of the powerful drug cartels. Mexico estimates that at least 70% of these illicit weapons originate from the U.S. Additional Insight: Research indicates that American guns account for about 70% of the firearms seized by Mexican authorities from criminals, based on a study by the Department of Justice and published in April 2023.
The lawsuit accuses these manufacturing giants of being aware that their weapons were being sold to traffickers and then smuggled into Mexico. They're accused of choosing to profit from such transactions instead.
The companies vehemently deny these allegations, insisting that Mexico's claim doesn't demonstrate their responsibility for the few who use their products to engage in violence.
A federal judge struck down the lawsuit, invoking the 2005 Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), which mainly safeguards the gun industry from lawsuits based on the misuse of firearms by third parties. However, the exception to the shield law came into play when the manufacturers were accused of knowingly breaking laws regarding their business practices.
This exception has been relevant in other scenarios, like lawsuits stemming from mass shootings, such as the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut, in 2012. Victims' families argued that this exception applied because the gunmaker had transgressed state laws in marketing the AR-15 rifle used in the massacre, which resulted in the deaths of 20 first-graders and six educators. Despite these efforts, the families were able to secure a landmark $73 million settlement with Remington, the AR-15's manufacturer.
- The decision made by SCOTUS on the case against American firearm manufacturers could have implications beyond cartel violence, as it lies at the intersection of war-and-conflicts, politics, and general-news, due to its potential impact on how nations hold gun manufacturers responsible in such situations.
- Amidst the unfolding of this major lawsuit, discussions surrounding crime-and-justice arose, as victims' families in past mass shootings, like the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy, have contested the gun industry's protection under the 2005 Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, citing exceptions in cases where manufacturers knowingly break laws.
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