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Congresswoman Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08), and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), alongside Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-04), Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04), and Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10), led an amicus brief to the Supreme Court concerning the ongoing Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. et al., v. Estados Unidos Mexicanos case.
In Smith & Wesson, Mexico is suing U.S. gun manufacturers and a distributor for allegedly aiding and abetting illegal arms trafficking. Smith & Wesson Brands will be a critical case for victims and survivors of gun violence hoping to hold the gun industry accountable for its actions in years to come. As lawmakers whose constituents have been harmed by gun violence or the threat of it, amici argue that the gun industry should not be insulated from liability for its own unlawful conduct.
“Gun violence is a scourge that affects every community in this country,” Rep. Dean said. “And while weapons manufacturers should not be held liable for every single crime committed with one of their guns, there are instances in which their actions directly facilitate crime. In those cases, they should absolutely be held to account — otherwise, they have no incentive to maintain responsible business practices. I am grateful to my colleagues in the House and Senate for coming together and making this argument before the Court.”
“For too long, the American firearms industry has profited from sales to Mexican drug cartels — allowing these viciously criminal groups to terrorize Mexican society. This brief rejects the gun manufacturers’ position claiming a right to fuel violence and chaos. I’m proud to continue my work stopping dangerous gun industry practices,” Senator Blumenthal said.
“Every year, half a million firearms pour south across our border into Mexico and fall into the hands of violent cartels that then use those guns to send us fentanyl in return,” Rep. Goldman said. “For far too long, the illegal gun traffickers who enable this violence and the American gun manufacturers who aid and abet it have grown rich at the expense of American communities. Enough is enough. I’m proud to lead this amicus brief with my colleagues in support of this suit against gun manufacturers for their complicity in the violence at our Southern Border, and I urge the U.S. Supreme Court to adhere to the letter of the law and hold these bad actors to account.”
"The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) was never meant to shield illegal or reckless behavior by the gun industry. Yet for years, some companies have exploited the law to evade accountability, even when their actions fuel violence and endanger lives. The unchecked actions of bad actors in the industry demand scrutiny and accountability—no one is above the law. We applaud Senator Blumenthal and Representatives Dean, Raskin, Thompson, Johnson, and Goldman for their leadership in standing up to the gun lobby and championing efforts to ensure accountability and justice," said David Pucino, Legal Director & Deputy Chief Counsel at GIFFORDS Law Center.
The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to hear oral arguments in this case on March 4, 2025.
Rep. Madeleine Dean is a mother, grandmother, attorney, professor, former four-term member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and U.S. Representative for the Fourth District of Pennsylvania.
