Grand Canyon Times

The fate of a lawsuit filed by Mexico against U.S. gun manufactures rests in the hands of the U.S. Supreme Court, who will decide if the case—in which Mexico blames U.S. gunmakers for the drug cartel violence on its own soil—can move forward, described by one second amendment advocate as "pure liberal lunacy."

Law Enforcement Today’s Kyle Reyes is a vocal critic arguing against the lawsuit launched by Mexico in 2021. Originally filed in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, the case was initially dismissed. It was subsequently reinstated by the First Circuit Court of Appeals, prompting the plaintiffs to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court regarding the appellate court's decision to revive the case.

The lawsuit has reignited the long-standing debate over gun control and contends that American firearms manufacturers bear responsibility for the illegal use of their products south of the border.

"The idea that gun manufacturers should be responsible for the acts of criminals isn't just unAmerican, it's misguided and pure liberal lunacy,” Reyes told the Grand Canyon Times.  

“Would we hold car manufacturers responsible for the actions of individuals who use vehicles to intentionally run over civilians?” he said. “Knifemakers responsible for stabbings?  Of course not. This is nothing more than a not so veiled attempt by radical leftists to gut the Second Amendment." 

"Simply put, we need to allocate more resources towards three vital areas: securing our border, enforcing the laws already on the books and locking up criminals, and supporting mental healthcare in America."

The lawsuit, titled Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc., et al., Petitioners, v. Estados Unidos Mexicanos (a/k/a the Country of Mexico) revolves around the issue of whether American firearm manufacturers can be held accountable for the violence attributed to drug cartels in Mexico.

Mexico is reportedly seeking $10 billion in damages from the gun manufacturers involved in the lawsuit. The case alleges that major firearms manufacturers have played a role in facilitating illegal firearm transactions to drug cartels, a contention disputed by the accused companies.

Their petition to the Supreme Court aims to challenge a lower court's decision allowing Mexico's claims to proceed, asserting that it misinterprets the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act of 2005 (PLCAA) and sets a dangerous precedent.

A coalition of 27 states opposing the case, including the Arizona legislature, argues that holding American firearms manufacturers accountable would violate Second Amendment rights and undermine U.S. sovereignty. 

The case has sparked a broader debate over gun control and the extent of manufacturers' liability for the illegal use of their products, echoing past litigation against the firearms industry in the late 1990s.

Mexico's lawsuit comes after similar litigation was pursued against gun manufacturers by the City of Buffalo, N.Y. and New York City. That case survived a motion to dismiss earlier this year.

In recent years Mexico has seen skyrocketing murder rates. 

From 2015 to 2021, Mexico witnessed a 76.3% increase in its national homicide rate, with over 211,000 recorded homicides during this period. 

While there was a modest 4.3% improvement in the homicide rate in 2021 compared to the previous year, the nation still registered a substantial 26.6 deaths per 100,000 people, translating to over 34,000 victims annually or an average of 94 homicides per day.

As the CEO of The Silent Partner Marketing, Reyes owns and operates Law Enforcement Today, Blue Lives Matter and The Police Tribune. On his LinkedIn profile, Reyes defends his Second Amendment stance describing himself as a “gun-toting, meat-eating, Christian, thin blue line backing, veteran loving patriot.”