Supreme Court Rejects Mexico's Lawsuit Against U.S. Gun Industry

June 6, 2025 - WASHINGTON, D.C. - In a unanimous decision, the U.S. Supreme Court has dismissed Mexico's multibillion-dollar lawsuit against the American firearms industry, dealing a blow to efforts to hold gun manufacturers accountable for cartel violence. The ruling, penned by Justice Elena Kagan, found that Mexico's legal challenge was barred by the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), a 2005 law that shields gun makers from most liability.

Mexico had argued that its lawsuit fell under an exception to the PLCAA, allowing suits when companies "knowingly violated" firearms laws, leading to harm. However, Kagan ruled that such an interpretation would undermine the broad protections Congress intended, stating, "We doubt Congress intended to draft such a capacious way out of PLCAA, and in fact it did not."

The lawsuit originally targeted major gun manufacturers, including Smith & Wesson and Glock, alleging they had contributed to cartel violence by failing to prevent firearms from falling into criminal hands. While most companies had already been dismissed from the case, two remained when the Supreme Court intervened.

The lawsuit sought $10 billion in damages and restrictions on how gun companies' market and distribute their products. Backing the firearms industry were groups such as the National Rifle Association and the Firearms Policy Coalition, alongside Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and dozens of Republican lawmakers.

Mexico's legal challenge was supported by gun control organizations like Everytown and the March for Our Lives Action Fund, as well as Democratic lawmakers and attorneys general from multiple states.

With the Supreme Court's ruling, the case is closed, reaffirming the strength of legal protections for firearm manufacturers under U.S. law.

(Original reporting by The Hill contributed to this report.)