Supreme Court Denies Gun Industry Blanket Immunity But Stops Mexico’s Lawsuit
Gunmakers’ “Indifference” and “Inaction” on Trafficking to Cartels is Given Green Light
Today’s U.S. Supreme Court decision on Mexico’s lawsuit against gun manufacturers said that Mexico had set “a high bar” for its claims, refused the industry’s assertions of blanket immunity against violations of the law.
Stop US Arms to Mexico, a project of Global Exchange that supplied data used by Mexico in its lawsuit, expressed disappointment in the outcome, although it was expected from the conservative Supreme Court.
The court relied entirely on a federal law, the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) that shields the gun industry from litigation. Stop US Arms to Mexico coordinator John Lindsay-Poland filed an amicus brief in support of Mexico’s case.
The court’s decision does not stop Mexico’s other lawsuit that focused on five firearms dealers in Arizona whose weapons were trafficked to Mexico. That lawsuit, filed in 2022, has advanced to the discovery (evidence production) phase.
In, addition, today the Connecticut legislature forwarded to that state’s governor legislation that would create an exception for PLCAA in Connecticut, where Colt – one of the defendants in the Mexico case – is headquartered and manufactures firearms that are among the most commonly trafficked to Mexico.
Tellingly, the court recognizes that manufacturers know some dealers routinely violate the law and says this constitutes “indifference”. Stop US Arms to Mexico calls on policymakers, communities, and private industry to reject indifference to the more than 300,000 people murdered or forcibly disappeared in Mexico with the use of firearms, most of which were produced or sold in the United States.
Contact:
John Lindsay-Poland, johnlindsaypoland@gmail.com, 510-282-8983
Marco Castillo, marco@globalexchange.org, 415-575-5522