A recent ruling by a U.S. federal judge in Massachusetts has again dismissed most of the Mexican government’s $10 billion lawsuit against several major U.S. gun manufacturers. The lawsuit, originally filed in 2021, sought to hold these companies accountable for the flow of firearms into Mexico, which the Mexican government argues contributes to the violence caused by drug cartels.

The key defendants in the lawsuit included well-known manufacturers such as Smith & Wesson, Barrett Firearms, Beretta USA, Century International Arms, Colt’s Manufacturing, Glock, and Ruger. However, the judge ruled that the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), which generally shields gun manufacturers from liability when their products are misused, applied in this case. The ruling found that Mexico failed to establish a sufficient legal connection between the business activities of the gun makers in Massachusetts and the injuries suffered in Mexico due to cartel violence.

The dismissal marks a significant blow to Mexico’s efforts to hold U.S. gun makers legally responsible for the trafficking of firearms into their country. However, the Mexican government has indicated its intention to appeal the decision, continuing its fight to impose greater accountability on the U.S. firearms industry.