Grand Canyon Times

The Mexican government has filed a new lawsuit against five U.S. gun shops and distributors, claiming they are responsible for the flow of illegal weapons into Mexico.

The suit, which was filed Oct. 10, is the second lawsuit of its kinds filed, after one filed against U.S. gun manufacturers was dismissed; a recent report from FOX 10 Phoenix said. The new suit is against five gun shops and distributors in Arizona, including three outlets in Tucson, one in Phoenix and one in Yuma. Mexican Secretary of Foreign Affairs Marcelo Ebrard claimed these arms dealers are responsible for the smuggling weapons into Mexico by selling to "straw" buyers.

"We are going to show that many of these outlets where they sell these products in these counties I mentioned are dealing with straw purchasers, and criminal charges have to be brought," Ebrard said.

Mexico is suing for unspecified  damages, and Mexican officials are asking that gun stores be made to hire independent monitors to ensure buyers and sellers adhere to federal law, the lawsuit stated.

"They are not careful when they sell products, so they allow straw purchasers to buy guns," Alejandro Celorio Alcántara, legal adviser to Mexico’s Foreign Relations Department, said in the report. "We are saying they are negligent and facilitate straw purchasers, to the point of being accomplices."

Mexican authorities estimate that 70% of the weapons trafficked into Mexico come from the U.S.

"The main argument of our lawsuit is that these businesses are an organized part of a criminal enterprise, a mechanism, to facilitate criminals and cartels in Mexico being able to use their weapons," Alcántara said.