U.S. judge again dismisses Mexico lawsuit against most gun makers

A federal judge in Massachusetts on Wednesday again dismissed a $10 billion lawsuit filed by the Mexican government against six U.S. gun manufacturers.

Mexico argues that the companies knew the weapons were being sold to traffickers who smuggled them into Mexico and decided to profit from that market.

The judge ruled, however, that Mexico had not provided conclusive evidence linking any of the six companies’ activities in Massachusetts to the suffering caused by guns in Mexico.

Mexico’s Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday the ruling would allow lawsuits against a seventh manufacturer and a gun wholesaler to proceed.

Regarding the dismissals of the other defendants, the department said, “Mexico is analyzing its options, which include filing an appeal.”

The legal process of this case has been full of ups and downs.

In early 2022, six companies (not including a seventh manufacturer) filed to dismiss Mexico’s lawsuit, arguing that a 2005 U.S. law, the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), provides broad protections for gun manufacturers.

The law protects gun manufacturers from “damages resulting from the criminal or unlawful misuse of firearms.” Later in 2022, a federal judge ruled to dismiss the case on this basis.

Mexico appealed the ruling, and in January, the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Massachusetts reheard the case, saying the Gun Misuse Act does not apply to claims for death, damage and injury caused by guns in Mexico.

The appeals court sent the case back to the lower court, which again ruled to dismiss the lawsuits against the six companies.

The Mexican government estimates that 70 percent of the weapons trafficked into Mexico come from the United States, according to the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs.