Mexico seeks another chance to hold US gunmakers liable for drug cartel violence

[Judi Lynn]

Attorneys for Mexico tried to bring back a federal lawsuit that aims to pin some responsibility for drug cartel gun violence on American weapons manufacturers.

THOMAS F. HARRISON / July 24, 2023



A border crossing sign warns travelers of Mexico’s stringent gun laws. With only one gun store the country, located on a military base, Mexico issues fewer than 50 gun permits per year. (Courthouse News image via the District of Massachusetts)

BOSTON (CN) — A trio of judges showed little indication of their leanings Monday while asking wide-ranging questions about the impact of a $10 billion lawsuit by the Mexican government accusing U.S. gunmakers of encouraging illegal weapons trafficking to gangs and cartels.

Mexico fought to revive its claims against seven U.S. gun makers — including Smith & Wesson, Beretta, Colt, Glock and Ruger — which it deems responsible for 340,000 guns being smuggled across the southern border each year, leading to as many as 17,000 murders per year and economic damages of almost 2% of the Mexico’s GDP.

In its complaint the Mexican government says the gunmakers score $170 million in annual sales by illegally selling their weapons to corrupt dealers who they know will traffic the guns to gangs and cartels. Colt even manufactures three .38 caliber pistols specifically tailored to the Mexican market that are prized by criminal gang members: the “El Jefe,” the “El Grito” and the “Emiliano Zapata 1911.”

On behalf of Mexico, attorney Steve Shadowen of Hilliard Shadowen in Austin, Texas, argued that federal laws don’t apply outside the United States unless Congress explicitly says so.

More:
https://www.courthousenews.com/mexico-seeks-another-chance-to-hold-us-gunmakers-liable-for-drug-cartel-violence/