Supreme Court to weigh in on Mexico's lawsuit against US gun manufacturers

The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to take up the gun industry’s appeal of a ruling allowing the Mexican government to proceed with its lawsuit against several prominent American firearm manufacturers. 

Mexico contends the companies deliberately chose to “profit off the criminal market for their products” and caused a flood of guns to fall into the hands of Mexican cartels. The country says firearms manufacturers should pay billions in damages and change their practices. 

U.S. federal law provides broad immunity to the firearm industry, however. A federal judge tossed Mexico’s lawsuit as a result, but an appeals court later reversed that ruling, allowing the case to move ahead. 

The companies at the center of the suit are: Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc.; Barrett Firearms Manufacturing, Inc.; Beretta U.S.A. Corp; Glock, Inc.; Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc.; Witmer Public Safety Group, Inc., d/b/a Interstate Arms; Century International Arms, Inc.; and Colt’s Manufacturing Company, LLC.

By agreeing to hear the gun industry’s appeal, the Supreme Court will need to decide whether immunity applies. The justices’ brief order sets up the case to be heard during the court’s upcoming annual term, with a decision expected by next summer. 

Mexico claims its case falls under an exception to the 2005 Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA). Gun control groups have long looked to repeal the law entirely. 

The exception allows lawsuits when a gun manufacturer knowingly violates state or federal firearms law, if the plaintiff was proximately harmed by the violation. The case marks the first time the Supreme Court will weigh in on the exception’s scope. 

The companies assert that Mexico’s legal theory does not come close to proving the American gun industry is the proximate cause of cartel violence, describing it as an “eight-step Rube Goldberg.” 

“Mexico’s suit has no business in an American court,” the companies wrote in their petition. 

Their appeal is backed by all of the nation’s Republican state attorneys general, except Ohio; 27 Republican members of Congress; and various gun rights groups. 

No matter how the Supreme Court rules, many of the defendants are already off the hook. In August, a federal trial judge ruled on separate grounds that the court had no jurisdiction to hear claims against six of the eight firearms companies, meaning just two companies could face penalties if the Supreme Court decides the case in Mexico's favor. 

The Mexican government urged the Supreme Court to turn away the appeal, arguing that recent ruling underscores that the case doesn’t merit the attention of the justices.  

“The Court should allow further percolation before accepting review of these largely unventilated questions,” Mexico wrote in court filings. 

If the Supreme Court ultimately rules in favor of Mexico, the case remains in its early stages, meaning the prospect of damages remains far off. 

“At bottom, this case reduces to a clash of national values: Mexico makes no secret that it abhors this country’s approach to firearms, and that it wants to use the American court system to impose domestic gun controls on the United States that the American people themselves would never accept through the ordinary political process,” the industry wrote in its petition. 

“But even though that grievance is placed under the lettering of a complaint, and was filed on a docket, it has no basis in law. This Court’s review is badly needed,” it continued.