On August 7, 2024, United States district Judge Dennis Saylor threw out a large part of a lawsuit introduced by Mexico against various American gunmakers and a wholesaler.

Back in August 4, 2021,  the Mexican Government filed a  lawsuit against six  American gun manufacturers and one wholesaler based in the Boston area, asserting that “massive damage” was created by “unlawful trafficking” of guns to cartel and other criminal actors.

The Mexican government’s lawsuit started off with trafficking assertions, and named the six manufacturers and the wholesale. 

Part of lawsuit read as follows: 

Plaintiff Estados Unidos Mexicanos (the “Government”), a sovereign nation, brings this action to put an end to the massive damage that the Defendants cause by actively facilitating the unlawful trafficking of their guns to drug cartels and other criminals in Mexico. Almost all guns recovered at crime scenes in Mexico — 70% to 90% of them — were trafficked from the U.S. The Defendants include the six U.S.-based manufacturers whose guns are most often recovered in Mexico — Smith & Wesson, Beretta, Century Arms, Colt, Glock, and Ruger. Another manufacturer defendant is Barrett, whose .50 caliber sniper rifle is a weapon of war prized by the drug cartels. The remaining defendant — Interstate Arms — is a Boston-area wholesaler through which all but one of the defendant manufacturers sell their guns for re-sale to gun dealers throughout the U.S.

The number of entities that the Mexican government ended up suing reached eight overall, when it was all said and done.

A district court judge ruled against Mexico in September 2022, declaring that the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) safeguards American gun manufacturers from such lawsuits. However, the Mexican government appealed the ruling, and CNN highlighted that a three-judge panel from the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit issued a ruling “that Mexico’s complaint plausibly alleges a type of claim that is statutorily exempt from the PLCAA’s general prohibition.”

According to a BBC report,“Smith & Wesson Brands and Witmer Public Safety Group remain defendants following the judge’s ruling.”

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudson has been spearheading a movement among state AGs to push for the Supreme Court to step in in the case against American gun manufacturers.

After Sayler’s dismissal of the lawsuit, Knudson said the following to Breitbart News:  “I’m glad the District Court agreed with us. The Mexican government cannot weaponize U.S. courts in an attempt to deflect from Mexico’s own failed policies. Perhaps now Mexican leadership can focus on the real problems: drug cartels and rampant government corruption.”

While the court system may have its flaws, decent judges can at least throw wrenches in the tyrannical system that gun controllers want to impose. That was one of the few positive aspects of the administration of former President Donald Trump, who used his power prudentially to nominate solid judges.  

Vigilance is needed at all levels of government. If we get caught asleep at the wheel, our rights will most assuredly take a beating.