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In a clean 9-0 smackdown, the U.S. Supreme Court has unanimously rejected Mexico’s attempt to hold American gun manufacturers liable for cartel violence south of the border.
The case—Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. v. Estados Unidos Mexicanos—was dismissed under the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), and the ruling is being celebrated as a major win for both U.S. sovereignty and the Second Amendment.
Gun Owners of America (GOA), the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), and the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA) all filed briefs and responded swiftly to the news.
“This is a massive victory for the Second Amendment and American sovereignty,” said GOA Federal Affairs Director Aidan Johnston. “The Mexican government—whose citizens are disarmed and whose officials are often complicit in cartel crime—tried to scapegoat U.S. gun companies for its own failure to secure its borders and protect its people.”
GOA’s Erich Pratt called the ruling “a powerful reminder that Americans don’t answer to globalists or foreign governments,” adding, “Mexico’s gun control dystopia has empowered cartels and disarmed the innocent—and now they want to export that disaster to the U.S. The Supreme Court just told them: ‘Not on our soil.’”
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At the heart of the Court’s opinion, authored by Justice Elena Kagan, was a strong rebuke of the lawsuit’s logic. The justices wrote that Mexico’s case “attempts an end-run around the PLCAA,” and emphasized that Congress passed the law to stop exactly these kinds of suits—where gun makers are blamed for the criminal misuse of firearms by third parties.
But it gets better.
In what may be the most significant line for future 2A litigation, the Court pointed out that the Mexican government specifically targeted AR-15s, AK-47s, and .50 cals, noting that “those products are both widely legal and bought by many ordinary consumers.”
It also stated, plainly, that “the AR–15 is the most popular rifle in the country.”
NSSF hailed the decision as “a tremendous victory for the firearm industry and the rule of law.”
“This unequivocal decision by the Supreme Court that PLCAA applies and there is no evidence whatsoever that U.S. manufacturers are in any way responsible is verification of [our] commitment to responsible firearm ownership,” said NSSF Senior VP and General Counsel Lawrence Keane.
CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb was blunt: “Thankfully, the Supreme Court recognized this lawsuit was nonsense in the first place, and that the appellate court’s decision needed to be reversed.”
He warned that the real goal of Mexico’s lawsuit wasn’t justice, but to “financially drain American firearms manufacturers.”
Gottlieb added, “We know the gun ban bunch has been trying for years to stop gun sales and erase the Second Amendment… Before attacking our house, Mexico needs to get its own house in order.”
What are your thoughts? You satisfied SCOTUS threw out Mexico’s lawsuit against the gun industry?
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is a seasoned outdoorsman, lifelong hunter, and the kind of guy who’d rather track whitetails than scroll social media. As an editor for GunsAmerica, he’s got a sharp eye for spotting both solid gear and bad gun laws. Whether he’s deep in the woods or deep in editorial deadlines, Larry brings a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to firearms, hunting, and the great American tradition of self-reliance. If there’s a hot debate on gun rights or the latest in hunting tech, you can bet Larry’s got an opinion—and it’s probably backed up with both facts and field experience.
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Kagan’s reply was priceless.
Now only if we can get those 3 lefty’s to adhere to that during a BADLY NEEDED semi-auto challenge, that would be terrific.
?? Why was suit from a foreign country even accepted by our courts in the first place? Can we sue Mexico for the illegal immigration through its border to the US? This should never seen our courts in the first place. Whatever Judge that allowed that should be removed from office.
didn’t you know the constitution is for everybody except americans (i don’t consider dems americans)
Mexico, Sue Barack H. Obama for operation ‘Fast and Furious’ which place those firearms in criminal hands.
Sue? Deport.
We invaded Mexico in the 19th Century and again in the 20th Century. Both times were in response to criminal behavior by Mexico and/or its citizens. And yet, Mexican criminal activity that violates our borders and our sovereignty continues. Do we need to invade again in the 21st Century?
So SCOTUS isn’t completely worthless?
I believe the jury is still out on that question .
What the Supreme Court needs to do, is to shut down the National Firearms Act and the Gun Control Act, which are totally unconstitutional, with a 9 to 0 vote!