Mexico gunning for the guns

Zedrick Raziel in Animal Politico (my translation, with several structural changes):

In order to contain the illegal arms trafficking, the Secretary of Foreign Relations (SRE) has filed a civil suit in a United States Court against private companies that manufacture firearms. The lawsuit was filed today in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts against the manufacturers Smith & Wesson Brands Inc .; Barrett Firearms Manufacturing Inc .; Beretta USA Corp .; Beretta Holding S.P.A .; Century International Arms Inc .; Colt’s Manufacturing Company LLC; Glock Inc .; Glock Ges M.B.H .; Sturm, Ruger & Co. Inc .; Witmer Public Safety Group Inc., and D / B / A Interstate Arms.

The suit is filed in Boston for strategic and legal reasons. The arms manufacurers targeted by the suit are all headquartered in the state of Massachusetts, and 9 out of the 11 judges on the Boston District Court lean “liberal”, suggesting a favorable hearing for the Mexican argument.

The Mexican authorities point out that arms production in the United States, and the illegal traffic to Mexico, is directly related to the increase in violence in the country, since the weapons end up in the hands of drug cartels and criminal groups. Furthermore, the Mexicans argue that not only do the manufactures know that their distributors are involved in the illegal firearms trade, but are complicit in it, offering weapns specifically aimed (sorry!) at the criminal market. In short, they are suing the manufacturers for criminal negligence.

While no specific monetary compensation is being sought, with any amount to be determined at trial, the intention is to force the companies to compensate Mexico for their co-responsibility in the problem of violence.

THe suit seeks to force the companies to develop and implement reasonable, verifiable standards to monitor and, where appropriate, discipline their distributors, because — as Foreign Secretary Ebrard said in announcing the suit — “… are conscious of the fact that their products are trafficked and used in illicit activities against the civilian population and authorities of Mexico.”

He added, “But not only that, they are developing different models for drug traffickers, used by drug trafficking, they are made for that purpose, and offered in different arrangements. (We also demand) that they incorporate security mechanisms in their weapons so that we can prevent them from being used by unauthorized persons, or linked to crime. That they pay for studies, programs, media campaigns and other events focused on preventing illicit arms trafficking. That the companies immediately cease the negligent practices that cause harm and death in Mexico ”.

By filing a civil suit against manufacturers, Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard explained that the issue is being taken out of diplomatic channels, avoiding conflict with the United States goverment, and a diplomatic conflict between the two countries, accusing not the US government or any officials, but rather individuals who happen to be in the United States.