US judge tosses much of Mexico's lawsuit against US gun makers (updated)

Sturm, Ruger & Company

07/08/2024 20:41

(Adds details on ruling in paragraphs 3-5)
    By Nate Raymond
       Aug 7 (Reuters) - A U.S. judge on Wednesday dismissed
much of Mexico's $10 billion lawsuit seeking to hold U.S. gun
manufacturers responsible for facilitating the trafficking of
firearms to violent drug cartels across the U.S.-Mexico border.
    U.S. District Judge Dennis Saylor in Boston dismissed claims
against six of the eight companies Mexico had sued in 2021,
including Sturm, Ruger  RGR.N  and Glock, citing jurisdictional
problems.
    He called the companies' connection to Massachusetts
"gossamer-thin at best." None of the six were incorporated in
the state, and Saylor said Mexico had not shown that any
firearms sold specifically in Massachusetts had caused it any
harm.
        While Mexico argued that statistically it was likely
that some firearms sold in Massachusetts were eventually
illegally trafficked to Mexico, Saylor said the country lacked
sufficient evidence to prove a jurisdictional nexus.
  
        Other companies he dismissed claims against included
Barrett Firearms Manufacturing; Colt's Manufacturing Company;
Century International Arms; and Beretta USA. Representatives for
the gun industry and Mexico did not respond to requests for
comment.
  
        
  

 (Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Leslie Adler)
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