### Supreme Court to Review Mexico’s $10 Billion Lawsuit Against U.S. Gun Makers

The Supreme Court has agreed to deliberate on whether to halt a significant lawsuit filed by Mexico against several prominent U.S. gun manufacturers. The lawsuit, which seeks $10 billion in damages, accuses the companies of fostering commercial practices that have contributed to the rampant violence in Mexico.

The defendants, including well-known names like Smith & Wesson, Beretta, Colt, and Glock, have petitioned the Supreme Court to overturn a previous appellate court decision that allowed the case to proceed. The gun manufacturers argue that broad legal protections typically shield the firearms industry from liabilities concerning criminal misuse of guns. A federal judge had previously dismissed most of Mexico's claims on other legal grounds, although an appeal from Mexico remains possible.

Mexico contends that the firearm companies were aware that their products were being sold to traffickers, who then smuggled the weapons into Mexico for use by violent cartels. According to the Mexican government, an estimated 70% of firearms trafficked into Mexico originate from the United States.

Despite the dismissal of most of the case by U.S. District Judge F. Dennis Saylor in Boston this past August—due to a lack of specific evidence connecting the activities of six of the eight companies in Massachusetts to the violence in Mexico—the lawsuit retains some surviving claims. Consequently, the gunmakers warn that if the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling is allowed to stand, it could impose prolonged uncertainties on the industry.

The origin of this legal battle dates back to 2021, when Mexico initially filed the lawsuit. A district court subsequently dismissed it, citing legal protections for gun manufacturers. However, it was later revived by the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals under an exception to the law, leading to the current Supreme Court involvement sought by the gunmakers. They hold that their practices comply with the law and argue that this lawsuit unjustly attempts to push them towards adopting gun control measures.