Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli occupation army: A sergeant from the 614th Combat Engineering Battalion was killed in the northern Gaza Strip on Thursday.
Israeli media: The government has approved the agreement that includes the release of hostages and Palestinian detainees amid divisions within the ministerial council.
European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre: The earthquake hit at a depth of 58 kilometers, warning of potentially hazardous tsunami waves.
European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre: A 7.4-magnitude earthquake strikes the Mindanao region in the Philippines.
Cuban Foreign Ministry: The clear objective of this escalation is to overthrow the constitutional government of President Nicolás Maduro and install a Washington-aligned authority.
Cuban Foreign Ministry: We warn against the growing escalation by the United States against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Venezuela's request comes in response to the escalation of aggression and the unprecedented US military deployment in the Caribbean.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Venezuelan government has officially requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli artillery shells the northwest of Nuseirat Camp in central Gaza Strip.
Israeli media: The ceasefire has come into effect.

US judge rejects Mexican lawsuit against American gun makers

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 1 Oct 2022 07:33
  • 1 Shares
4 Min Read

A lawsuit was filed by the Mexican government against US gun manufacturers, with accusations that their commercial practices caused bloodshed in Mexico.

  • x
  • An attendee tries out a gun on display at the National Rifle Association (NRA) annual convention in Houston, Texas, U.S. May 28, 2022. Callaghan O'Hare/Reuters.
    An attendee tries out a gun on display at the NRA annual convention in Houston, Texas, US May 28, 2022 (Callaghan O'Hare/Reuters)

A US judge dismissed a $10 billion lawsuit filed by Mexico against American gun manufacturers, accusing them of fueling drug trafficking and violence in Mexico.

Judge Dennis Saylor of the US District Court for the District of Columbia said the nation's claims failed to overcome the extensive protections afforded to firearm manufacturers by the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, which was passed by the US Congress in 2005.

"Unfortunately for the government of Mexico, all of its claims are either barred by federal law or fail for other reasons," Saylor wrote in a 44-page decision.

"While the court has considerable sympathy for the people of Mexico, and none whatsoever for those who traffic guns to Mexican criminal organizations, it is duty-bound to follow the law."

Read next: US weapons are used in 40% of crimes in Central America

Mexico filed a lawsuit in August 2021, against nine US gun manufacturers and two distributors, including Smith & Wesson, Beretta, Colt, Glock, Century Arms, Ruger, and Barrett, for what it called a "negligent and illicit" trade that encourages drug trafficking and violence in its territory.

70-90% of the weapons recovered at crime scenes in Mexico were trafficked from the United States, according to the Mexican government.

The lawsuit sought monetary damages for the harm caused by the firms' alleged "negligent practices," as well as the establishment of adequate standards to "monitor and discipline" arms dealers.

Plagued by violence 

Following the dismissal of the judge, Mexico's Foreign Ministry stated that the case would be pursued further.

"The civil suit for damages against those who profit from the violence suffered by Mexicans goes to a second stage, in which the Foreign Ministry will continue to insist that the negligence of these companies seriously affects our country," the Ministry said in a statement.

Related News

Trump props up Milei's economy with $20 billion

Letitia James hit with mortgage fraud indictment

Mexico, which has a population of 126 million people, has been plagued by widespread deadly violence since December 2006, when then-President Felipe Calderon's government launched a controversial military anti-drug operation.

#Mexico has filed a lawsuit against #US gun manufacturers for "negligent practices", seeking billions in damages. pic.twitter.com/lHUSlHz6RS

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) August 6, 2021

More than 300,000 people have been murdered in Mexico since then, the vast majority with firearms and in drug-related incidents, according to government figures.

Mexico tightly controls weapons sales; they are practically impossible to access legally.

According to the lawsuit, some manufacturers, such as Colt, specifically market their firearms to Mexican criminal cartels.

According to the filing, the company sells three pistols that it "targets to Mexican buyers." They are the "El Jefe," the "El Grito" and the "Emiliano Zapata 1911," all of which are .38 caliber handgun models that the lawsuit said are "status symbols and coveted by drug cartels."

Read next: Gunmakers making more money amid US mass shooting crisis

Mexico sues US arms manufacturers

Last year in August, Mexico filed lawsuits against the top US arms manufacturing companies in a federal court in Boston, on Thursday.

The main goal, according to Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard, is to get the companies that are being sued to compensate the Mexican government for the damages caused by their practices.

He went on to say that it is up to the court to decide the amount of compensation and to set and apply verifiable standards to monitor the marketing businesses and, if necessary, inflict penalties.

Smith & Wesson, Barrett Firearms Manufacturing, Colt's Manufacturing Company, and Glock Inc. are among the firms listed in the case, knowing that the hearing will be in a US court.

Mexico said the US arms-producing companies were aware of the damage they were inflicting on Mexico.

Read next: Gun makers appeal to masculinity, supremacists to sell guns: Axios

  • United States
  • Gun Violence
  • Mexico

Most Read

A Hamas fighter in combat fatigues stands before the ceremony for the handover of Israeli captives to the Red Cross in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, Saturday, February 22, 2025 (AP)

Hamas responds to Trump plan, backs Gaza withdrawal, exchange

  • Politics
  • 3 Oct 2025
Mossad’s secret role in Aldo Moro’s 1978 murder revealed

Mossad’s secret role in Aldo Moro’s 1978 murder exposed

  • Politics
  • 5 Oct 2025
The Palestinian resistance and the people of Gaza showed that after combating Israeli aggression for two years, they remain victorious in the face of oppression (Mahdi Rteil/Al Mayadeen English)

Al-Aqsa Flood two years on, a tale of victory

  • Politics
  • 6 Oct 2025
President Donald Trump walks from Marine One after arriving on the South Lawn of the White House, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Trump sets record-low refugee cap in new immigration policy shift

  • Politics
  • 4 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
In Five

Read Next

All
Displaced Palestinians watch smoke rise after Israeli military strikes as they gather on the coastal road near Wadi Gaza, in the central Gaza Strip, Thursday, October 9, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Israeli occupation bombs Gaza home, killing 4 and wounding 9

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, right, visit the site of a shooting attack at a bus stop in al-Quds, Monday, September 8, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ben-Gvir warns will topple Netanyahu’s govt over Hamas

Head of Hamas in Gaza Khalil al-Hayya speaks during an interview with AP, in Istanbul, Turkey, Wednesday, April 24, 2024 (AP)
Politics

Deal reached for permanent Gaza ceasefire, end to war: Al-Hayya

Yemeni Ansar Allah leader Sayyed Abdul-Malik al-Houthi during his speech on Thursday, Ocotber 9, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)
Politics

Sayyed al-Houthi: Yemen on alert as Gaza ceasefire takes effect

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS