The government of Mexico filed a lawsuit in US federal court in Boston against US gun manufacturers and distributors, claiming that their negligence and illegal commercial practices are directly linked to the bloodshed on the streets of the country, the Associated Press reports.
The companies sued include Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc.; Barrett Firearms Manufacturing, Inc.; Beretta U.S.A. Corp.; Colt’s Manufacturing Company LLC, and Glock Inc. Another defendant is Interstate Arms, a Boston-area wholesaler that sells guns from all but one of the named manufacturers to dealers around the U.S.
The Mexican government estimates that 70% of the guns in the country entered Mexico illegally. In 2019, more than 19,000 murders in Mexico were committed using guns that were illegally in the country.
The lawsuit seeks $10 billion in compensation for damages and loss of productivity caused by gun violence. A legal advisor for the foreign ministry estimated the country lost 1.7% to 2% in gross domestic output due to gun violence.
“We don’t do it to pressure the United States,” Alejandro Celorio of the foreign ministry said. “We do it so there aren’t deaths in Mexico.”