More than a decade ago, Mexican authorities launched a powerful visual campaign along the border in Ciudad Juárez, confronting the U.S. with the stark message: “No More Weapons.”
Crafted from 3 tons of firearms seized and crushed, the billboard served as a desperate plea directed toward U.S. officials to halt the southbound flow of arms, known as the Iron River, which fueled unprecedented violence in Mexico.
Despite these efforts, the influx of guns continued, contributing to escalating chaos and record homicide rates, with authorities exasperated by the situation.
In response, Mexico adopted a bold legal strategy, filing a $10 billion lawsuit in U.S. federal court against prominent gun manufacturers like Smith & Wesson, holding them accountable for the epidemic of shooting deaths that plagued the nation.
Although the lawsuit faced hurdles, including a challenge at the appellate level, the U.S. Supreme Court ultimately dismissed Mexico’s case, ruling unanimously that federal laws exempt gun manufacturers from most liability.
Despite the setback, advocates argue that the high-profile lawsuit brought significant attention to the role of American-made firearms in the ongoing violence in Mexico.
“Notwithstanding the Supreme Court ruling, Mexico’s lawsuit has accomplished a great deal,” stated Jonathan Lowy, president of Global Action on Gun Violence, a Washington-based advocacy group.
Lowy, who acted as co-counsel on Mexico’s lawsuit, commented that it has elevated the issues of gun trafficking and the armament industry’s role in facilitating the flow of guns onto the international stage.
Following the Supreme Court’s decision, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico City Ronald Johnson expressed the White House’s commitment to collaborating with Mexico to curb southbound arms trafficking and dismantle networks that exacerbate cartel violence.
President Claudia Sheinbaum heralded this acknowledgment from the U.S. as a breakthrough, stating that it marked a shift in understanding that gun trafficking is just as critical as the flow of narcotics from Mexico to the U.S.
“This is not just about the passage of narcotics from Mexico to the United States,” Sheinbaum remarked. “But that there [must] also be no passage of arms from the United States to Mexico.”
In light of the Supreme Court’s dismissal, Mexico is exploring further legal avenues, including a separate suit against five gun dealers in Arizona, accused of facilitating the transfer of weapons and ammunition to cartels.
Meanwhile, U.S. officials note that the recent designation of six Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations by the Trump administration could enable law enforcement to pursue terrorism-related charges against weapons traffickers.
In a congressional session held recently, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized the link between U.S. weapon sales and the operational strength of Mexican cartels.
“In essence, the cartels that operate within Mexico and threaten the state are armed from weapons that are bought in the United States and shipped there,” Rubio stated.
He underscored the U.S. commitment to assist Mexico in stopping this damaging flow of arms.
Additionally, federal law enforcement agents gathered at an international bridge in Laredo, Texas, displaying an array of confiscated firearms, from small revolvers to heavy-duty machine guns, to highlight their determination to combat illicit arms trafficking.
“This isn’t a weapon just going to Mexico,” Craig Larrabee, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in San Antonio, asserted during the event.
“It’s going to arm the cartels. It’s going to fight police officers and create terror throughout Mexico.”
In documents presented to the Supreme Court, Mexican officials argued that it strains credulity for U.S. gun manufacturers to claim ignorance regarding the intended destinations of their products.
Gunmakers have denied any culpability, dismissing allegations that their offerings are deliberately designed to attract criminal buyers, including military-style assault rifles.
Mexico’s complaint highlighted specific models, such as a gold-plated, Jefe de Jefes pistol and the Emiliano Zapata handgun, which features an image of the iconic Mexican revolutionary hero.
Contrastingly, Mexico enforces much stricter firearms regulations than the United States.
While both countries’ constitutions guarantee the right to bear arms, Mexico’s laws mandate federal oversight on gun ownership, stipulating conditions and locations for legal purchases.
There are just two stores within Mexico where firearms can be legally purchased, both operated by the military, with an average of fewer than 50 sales per day from the larger store in Mexico City.
Buyers must undergo a thorough vetting process, which includes providing personal information along with fingerprints, and this process can take several months.
Moreover, unlike the U.S., Mexico maintains a national gun registry, enhancing monitoring capabilities.
However, the severe restrictions on legal firearm ownership in Mexico are undermined by the prevalence of US-origin black-market weapons.
Mexican authorities estimate that anywhere from 200,000 to half a million firearms are smuggled into the country annually, with data from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives revealing alarming statistics.
From 2009 to 2018, 132,823 guns found at crime scenes in Mexico indicated that approximately 70% originated from the United States, with many sourced from Texas and other Southwest border states.
Mexico’s figures suggest even higher proportions, with almost 90% of guns seized at crime scenes traced back to north of the border.
Experts indicate that many firearms are acquired legally by straw purchasers at U.S. gun shows or retail outlets and then smuggled across the border with relative ease.
Given that over a million individuals and around $1.8 billion in goods cross the border legally each day, customs inspections are minimal, allowing for considerable weapon smuggling.
In tandem with the increasing flow of weapons, violence has surged in Mexico, with organized crime groups expanding their operations into various illegal ventures beyond drug trafficking.
Pervasive crimes now include extortion, fuel smuggling, and the exploitation of natural resources like timber and minerals.
In a sobering reflection of this shift, guns were once responsible for a quarter of all homicides in Mexico in 2004; today, they account for roughly three-quarters of all killings.
Mexican leaders have consistently raised alarms over the gun violence crisis.
Former President Felipe Calderón, who initiated a controversial campaign against drug traffickers in 2006 with U.S. backing, made urgent pleas to the American Congress to reinstate a ban on high-powered assault rifle purchases.
The expiration of the 2004 ban led to a situation where any adult with a clean record could purchase firearms traditionally reserved for military use in many parts of the world.
“Many of these guns are not going to honest American hands,” Calderón declared in 2010 during a U.S. Congressional address.
“Instead, thousands are ending up in the hands of criminals.”
In the twilight of his presidency, Calderón unveiled the striking billboard calling on U.S. authorities to stem the flow of weapons into Mexico.
Unfortunately, his calls, as well as those from subsequent leaders, went largely unheeded.
The impact of the recent remarks from Washington regarding addressing the flow of arms is yet to be determined, but experts agree on the stakes involved.
“The Trump administration has said very clearly that it wants to go after Mexican organized crime groups,” noted David Shirk, political scientist at San Diego University, specializing in violence in Mexico.
“And, if you’re going to get serious about Mexican cartels, you have to take away their guns.”
image source from：https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2025-06-08/mexico-lost-court-battle-but-raised-awareness-about-u-s-guns
