Context:

The US Supreme Court unanimously dismissed a lawsuit filed by Mexico aiming to hold American gun manufacturers accountable for the influx of illegal firearms contributing to the country's cartel-related violence. The court's 9-0 decision supports the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), a 2005 law that prevents gunmakers from being held liable for crimes committed with their products. Mexico alleged that US gun manufacturers intentionally marketed to cartel members, exacerbating the illegal gun trade across the border. The Supreme Court's ruling overturns a lower court's decision that had allowed the lawsuit against companies like Smith & Wesson to move forward. The justices' skepticism during the March hearing indicated doubts about the lawsuit's validity, reflecting bipartisan concerns over the legal challenge's foundation.

Dive Deeper:

• The US Supreme Court ruled 9-0 in favor of dismissing a lawsuit from Mexico against American gun manufacturers, reinforcing the 2005 Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), which shields gunmakers from liability if their products are misused in crimes.

• Mexico's government claimed that American gunmakers engaged in deliberate marketing practices that attracted cartel members, leading to a surge of illegal firearms crossing the US-Mexico border and fueling cartel violence.

• The case, the first of its kind to challenge the PLCAA, was initially permitted to proceed by a lower court ruling, which the Supreme Court has now overturned, preventing the lawsuit from advancing against companies such as Smith & Wesson.

• During the March hearing, justices from both conservative and liberal backgrounds expressed skepticism over Mexico's claims, questioning the legal grounds and effectiveness of holding US manufacturers liable for crimes committed in another country.

• The ruling underscores the legal protections afforded to US gunmakers under the PLCAA, highlighting the difficulties foreign governments face when attempting to attribute accountability for gun-related violence to American firms.