Mexico’s Legal Stand Against the Gun Industry

Following a recent decision by the US Supreme Court to dismiss one lawsuit from the Mexican government targeting several gun manufacturers, President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that her administration is proceeding with other litigation aimed at the gun industry.

“There’s another lawsuit pending,” Sheinbaum mentioned during a morning press conference. “This one is against gun manufacturers. We also have a lawsuit against gun dealers and stores. It’s something we will pursue with our legal team.”

This week, the Supreme Court rejected a lawsuit filed by Mexico, which sought to hold the US gun industry accountable for violence associated with drug cartels, rather than addressing the pervasive corruption within Mexico that allows cartels to thrive. The White House had pointed to an “extremely unbearable relationship” between the drug cartels and the government, as reported.

As highlighted in the coverage, the legal case against US gun manufacturers began back in 2021. It made its way through various lower courts before reaching the Supreme Court, which ruled unanimously against Mexico.

Sheinbaum’s predecessor, former President Andres Manuel López Obrador, initially championed this issue. He faced significant criticism for his lenient stance on drug cartels. After taking office, López Obrador declared that the war on drugs was over, instead focusing on social programs rather than combatting drug trafficking. Over time, political rivals accused him and his party of protecting cartels to maintain their hold on power.