Mexico: government files complaint against US arms manufacturers
Mexican soldiers posing in front of weapons after an operation against the powerful Gulf Cartel (Image illustration).
ASSOCIATED PRESS - Gregory Bull
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
It is an unprecedented legal action: Mexico has filed a lawsuit in the United States against ten of the largest American arms manufacturers.
They are accused of encouraging the violence of Mexican drug traffickers.
Publicity
Read more
It is an unprecedented legal action: Mexico has filed a lawsuit in the United States against ten of the largest American arms manufacturers.
They are accused of encouraging the violence of Mexican drug traffickers.
Smith & Wesson, Colt or Century Arms.
The big names in the American firearms industry are targeted.
According to the Mexican government, they produce nearly 70% of the weapons smuggled into Mexico each year, or 350,000. Worse, these companies manufacture weapons with an aesthetic specially designed for the powerful drug cartels.
In 2019, more than 17,000 murders were committed in Mexico with weapons illegally imported from the United States.
►Also read: Mexico: the government wants to extradite arms traffickers from the United States
With this complaint lodged with a court of first instance in Boston, the Mexican government wants to obtain increased surveillance of manufacturers and distributors of firearms from the United States administration.
He is also claiming compensation from the companies concerned.
" We are confident "
“
We are confident in the legal quality of what we are presenting, we will plead with all the necessary seriousness.
We will win this trial and we will succeed in drastically reducing the illicit trafficking of arms in Mexico,
”said Marcelo Ebrard, Mexican Minister of Foreign Affairs, at a press conference.
Presentamos asked contra fabricantes y vendedores de armas utilizadas para segar vidas en México.
Buscamos reparación del daño y que abandonen su negligencia e irresponsabilidad.
Será resuelta en los tribunales de Boston, EU.
pic.twitter.com/i1OLojgUAl
- Marcelo Ebrard C. (@m_ebrard) August 4, 2021
In the United States, observers are questioning the chances of this legal action being successful.
American firearms manufacturers are protected by federal laws against possible victim complaints.
In contrast, a future trial would provide significant political support for those in the United States who plead for stricter gun regulations.
Newsletter
Receive all international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
Mexico
United States