BREAKING: Supreme Court issues ruling on Mexico’s suit against U.S. gunmakers

June 5, 2025

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From the New York Times: The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that the Mexican government cannot sue U.S. gun manufacturers to hold them responsible for violence committed by drug cartels.

In a unanimous decision by Justice Elena Kagan, the court held that a lawsuit by the Mexican government was barred by U.S. legislation that insulates gun makers from liability. Mexico, she wrote, had not plausibly argued that American gun manufacturers had aided and abetted in unlawful gun sales to Mexican drug traffickers.

Mexico had argued that the gun industry’s production and sale of arms in the United States had helped fuel and supply drug cartels, harming the Mexican government. Mexican government lawyers also claimed the companies were aware that some of their guns were illegally trafficked, and that the country should therefore be allowed to sue.

During an oral argument in early March, a majority of the justices appeared skeptical that Mexico could prove a direct link between gunmakers and cartel violence. Several justices appeared persuaded that a 2005 law shielding gun makers and distributors from most domestic lawsuits over injuries caused by firearms could also apply to the case brought by the Mexican government.

The case began in 2021, when Mexico filed a lawsuit against a number of American gun makers and one distributor, arguing that they shared blame for drug cartel violence. The country asked them for $10 billion in damages.

In their lawsuit, the Mexican government claimed the U.S. gun industry had been negligent in marketing, distributing and selling high-capacity guns, and alleged that the U.S. gun industry’s actions had burdened the nation’s police, military and judicial system.

In April 2024, the gun maker Smith & Wesson, along with another gun maker, Interstate Arms, took the matter to the Supreme Court.

Justice Kagan wrote in the unanimous ruling, “Mexico’s complaint does not plausibly allege that the defendant manufacturers aided and abetted gun dealers’ unlawful sales of firearms to Mexican traffickers.”

BREAKING: Supreme Court rules Mexico’s suit against American gun manufacturers is barred under federal law.

— SCOTUSblog (@SCOTUSblog) June 5, 2025

The decision in Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. v. Estados Unidos Mexicanos is by Justice Kagan and is unanimous. https://t.co/XR1sR1V5lQ

— SCOTUSblog (@SCOTUSblog) June 5, 2025

🚨BREAKING🚨

Supreme Court hands down a unanimous 9-0 victory in @SmithWessonInc v. Mexico.

This is a massive win for the Second Amendment & the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act. pic.twitter.com/nP3JJOxqgs

— Gun Owners of America (@GunOwners) June 5, 2025