Mexico demands the US acknowledge its role in how drug cartels get their weapons

Mexico has demanded that the US recognize the role of its gun industry and commercialization in the smuggling of guns for drug cartels south of the border.

Mexico introduced a $10-billion lawsuit against some of the largest American gun manufacturers, which the Mexican Government considers accountable, in 2021.

A lower-court judge dismissed the case in 2022, claiming the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) shields the manufacturers.

However, a Boston appeals court revived the case in January 2024, allowing the Mexican government to proceed with the lawsuit.

According to Reuters, the appeals judges believe the Mexican demand falls under the exceptions of the PLCAA, which protects manufacturers from the consequences of gun misuse.

Mexico is suing several of the most prominent weapon manufacturers in the country, including Smith & Wesson, Beretta, Glock, Colt, and Ruger.

Mexican Foreign Minister Alicia Barcena said the ruling was "great news" on her X (Twitter) account. However, that same day, she demanded an investigation into a different issue.

According to the AP, Mexico's top diplomat asked the US to look into how military-grade weapons are ending up in the hands of cartels.

The news agency claims the Mexican army said last June that it had seized 221 machine guns, 56 grenade launchers, and a dozen rocket launchers from drug cartels since late 2018.

The heavy arsenals are becoming a challenge for middle-range law enforcement agencies that are part of the Mexican war on drugs along with the military.

However, the most significant issue for Mexico, according to AP news, is the semi-automatic rifles that are allowed for civilian use in the US and smuggled through the border.

Guns are a major driver for cartel violence in Mexico, where civilians are only allowed to carry low-caliber guns under very tight restrictions. So, US weapons are essential for cartels.

In 2022, the Mexican Government filed a second lawsuit against distributors in border states for allegedly selling guns to straws who then resell to smugglers.

According to Reuters, the Mexican Government claims that 880,000 guns enter their country illegally through the US border every year.

That means around 2,2% of the 40 million guns manufactured annually in the US make their way through the border illegally.

Of those, 68% (more than half a million guns) are made by the companies that are now facing the Mexican Government lawsuit, Reuters explains.