In a persistent effort to combat the illegal flow of weapons into its territory, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) of Mexico announced on Wednesday its ongoing legal actions against six of the eight arms manufacturing companies whose products are being illicitly trafficked into Mexico, fueling organized crime.
The Mexican Foreign Ministry is also weighing the possibility of filing additional lawsuits against these gun manufacturers in various U.S. courts. This decision comes after a setback in July 2023, when a Mexican legal team pursued litigation against the U.S. arms industry in an appeals court in Boston, Massachusetts, following the dismissal of its $10 million damages lawsuit by a lower court judge.
On Wednesday, a judge from the United States District Court in Massachusetts dismissed Mexico’s lawsuit, citing a lack of jurisdiction to assess the responsibility attributed by the Mexican Foreign Ministry to the six weapons manufacturers. These manufacturers, which include Barrett Firearms, Beretta USA, Century International Arms, Colt’s Manufacturing, Glock, and Sturm, Ruger, are accused of profiting from the illicit trade of arms entering Mexican territory.
In response to the dismissal, the SRE released a statement acknowledging the judge’s decision and affirming its intention to continue with its broad litigation strategy. “The Mexican government takes note of the decision of the federal judge in Boston on Wednesday regarding the lawsuit filed by our country. As this is a broad litigation strategy, the next steps to follow will be analyzed,” the statement read.
Importantly, the Foreign Ministry emphasized that the ongoing lawsuit in Boston against two companies, Smith and Wesson and Interstate Arms, remains unaffected by the recent ruling. “This decision does not affect the lawsuit against these two companies nor absolve the other six companies of responsibility,” the ministry stated.
The Mexican government has been actively pursuing legal actions against several arms dealers since October 2020, arguing that these companies facilitate the trafficking of high-powered weapons into Mexico, which are subsequently used to arm organized crime gangs. The SRE contends that these actions are crucial in addressing the violence in Mexico, which has resulted in thousands of homicides, femicides, and disappearances.
Mexico has repeatedly urged the United States to take more stringent measures to prevent the manufacture and trafficking of these weapons, underscoring their role in exacerbating violence within its borders. The government’s legal strategy reflects its determination to hold U.S. arms manufacturers accountable for their alleged contributions to the illicit arms trade and its devastating impact on Mexican society.
As Mexico considers its next legal moves, including potential appeals and new lawsuits in other U.S. jurisdictions, the international community watches closely. The outcome of this legal battle could set a significant precedent in the ongoing efforts to curb the illegal arms trade and its far-reaching consequences.