California and other blue states are siding with the Mexican government in its lawsuit against U.S. gun makers like Smith & Wesson, in which Mexico argues the companies are responsible for gun violence south of the border.
Mexico's lawsuit claims that gun manufacturers are liable for gun violence, and a filing from California and other states say they agree that the companies are "fully aware that their firearms were being trafficked into the country and that the companies — not a third party — knowingly violated laws applicable to the sale or marketing of firearms."
Mexico's lawsuit was tossed out by a federal judge in Massachusetts last year, but Mexico has appealed its case to the First Circuit.California's Democrat Attorney General Bonta and 17 other Democrat-led states filed an amicus brief in that appeal, and argue that court should overturn the district court. The states also say the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) does not shield the companies like Smith & Wesson, Ruger, Glock and others from accountability if their product is sold to dealers who are trafficking the firearms into Mexico illegally.
According to California, legally purchasing a firearm in Mexico is nearly impossible, as the country has one gun store and issues fewer than 50 gun permits per year. California noted that, according to a Government Accountability Office report, an estimated 200,000 firearms are trafficked into Mexico from the United States every year.
