Mexico files a second lawsuit in the US against arms manufacturers

The Mexican government filed a second lawsuit in US courts against US arms manufacturers for alleged arms trafficking, according to Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard.

The new complaint comes days after a judge dismissed a first one in which Mexico claimed compensation of US$10 billion.

Ebrard explained that this new complaint focuses on five US companies that, according to Mexico, have been responsible for selling weapons used for homicides and femicides in the country.

“We are suing them because here, evidently, as there is a recurrence, we presume, and it is evident that there is arms trafficking and that it is known that these weapons are directed to our country,” he maintained.

The Chancellor stressed the urgency of stopping the flow of weapons to Mexico to stop the violence.

“In our country, weapons are prohibited, so in essence, we are asking or proposing to the Court there in Arizona to impose sanctions because it is a crime according to the latest reforms made in the United States,” he added.

REJECTION OF THE FIRST LAWSUIT

Mexico sued the 11 major US gun manufacturers in August last year, claiming US$10 billion in compensation.

However, at the end of last September, the Mexican lawsuit was rejected, and a second lawsuit was filed in Arizona against only five companies based in that state.

In his argument, the federal judge who rejected the first lawsuit, Dennis Saylor, pointed out that Mexico claims that Smith & Wesson promoted its weapons in advertising, which gave the idea that anyone could obtain high-powered, military-style rifles.

Such weapons, Mexican government lawyers pointed out, enticed individuals and organizations to fight Mexican soldiers and police.

“Mexico, however, has not identified any common law statutes or statutes that are violated by this publicity,” Saylor said.

And, referring to qualifiers used by the Mexicans in their lawsuit, he added: “Although the defendant’s conduct is tactless, nothing in these advertisements is illegal, immoral, unethical or unscrupulous.”

With information from InfoDefensa