Overview

• Justice Elena Kagan authored the unanimous 9-0 opinion finding that Mexico’s complaint lacked plausible aiding-and-abetting allegations against gunmakers.
• The decision reaffirms that the 2005 Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act shields firearms manufacturers from liability for crimes committed with their products.
• Mexico’s 2021 suit named Smith & Wesson, Colt, Glock and others, accusing them of designing and marketing weapons favored by cartels and seeking about $10 billion in damages.
• After a federal court dismissal in 2022, the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals revived the case before the Supreme Court granted review in March.
• Industry groups hailed the ruling as a vindication of lawful commerce and Mexico’s government said it will pursue legal and diplomatic measures to curb arms trafficking.