The 11 U.S. gun companies sued by the Mexican government formally responded to the Massachusetts District Court in Boston to request that arguments against the companies be dismissed.
Alejandro Celorio, legal consultant of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE), released a document that lists the responses of the shipowners, who question the legality of the lawsuit.
The SRE reported that in coordination with other federal agencies, it prepares the arguments and the “evidence to respond before the Court to the defenses of the defendant companies.”
I share the main arguments in defence of the companies 🔫 defendants.
It is part of the ordinary process in litigation.
By 🇲🇽#NoMásTráficoDeArmas pic.twitter.com/4uE62eiRA3
— Alejandro Celorio A. (@acelorioa) November 22, 2021
The Foreign Ministry said that Mexico will present its reply on January 31, 2022 and, subsequently, the companies will deliver a counter-reply to the Court on February 28.
“Such allegations shall be dealt with precisely in the rebuttal brief and before the court. In no way will this case be litigated in the media,” the secretariat said.
The lawsuit was filed Aug. 4 against 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 companies had until Monday, November 22, to file an appeal against the complaint, where they are accused of a “negligent and illicit” arms trade.
Mexico calls for an end to the “damage” caused by these companies by “actively facilitating the illegal trafficking of weapons to drug cartels and other criminals” in the country.
Between 70% and 90% of the weapons recovered at crime scenes in Mexico were trafficked from the United States, from where more than half a million weapons arrive annually in the country corroded by drug trafficking, according to the complaint.
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