Mexico pushes ahead with Arizona gun dealer lawsuit after SCOTUS decision

Mexico is proceeding with its lawsuit against five Arizona gun dealers despite a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that dismissed a similar case against gun manufacturers.

Steve Shadowen, counsel for Mexico, asserted that the details of their case against companies like Smith & Wesson differ significantly from the earlier lawsuit. According to Shadowen, Justice Elena Kagan acknowledged that illegal gun sales to Mexican traffickers occur but determined that manufacturers are too removed from actual sales to bear legal responsibility.

In contrast, the Arizona lawsuit specifies individual sales by the dealers, linking them directly to arms ending up in Mexico.

“The government of Mexico will continue to pursue litigation against the gun dealers alleged to have connections with the cartels,” Shadowen stated.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum reaffirmed the commitment to the ongoing trials relevant to this matter. “There are two trials,” she noted, emphasizing the distinct nature of the case in Arizona.

David Pucino, from the Giffords Law Center, clarified that the Supreme Court’s decision primarily pertained to the manufacturer case, thus not granting the firearm industry broader immunity.

The Supreme Court had previously ruled that the manufacturers were shielded under the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, designed to limit liability for gun manufacturers and dealers unless they knowingly violate regulations.

Specific incidents cited by Mexico highlight the seriousness of the claims. For instance, a 2019 transaction from Diamondback Shooting Sports involved a significant ammunition sale directly connected to attempted trafficking.

Similarly, SnG Tactical was accused of selling multiple AK-47 rifles to an individual who also faced trafficking charges.

Additional claims were made against Loan Prairie LLC and Ammo A-Z LLC, asserting that these businesses ranked among the top ten dealers linked to crime guns traced back to Arizona.

Attorneys for Mexico estimate that these five stores collectively trafficked between 55 and 822 guns into Mexico each year.

U.S. District Court Judge Rosemary Marquez noted concerns over potential “red flags” such as bulk and cash sales that should alert dealers to avoid suspicious transactions.

The contrasts between this case and the Supreme Court decision underscore the complexities of legal accountability in cases involving firearms and cross-border trafficking.