This article first appeared on JoeHoft.com and republished with permission.
The Obama administration’s “Operation Fast and Furious” scandal, in which the US government knowingly allowed firearms to be sold to Mexican drug cartels, is a prime example of current lawsuits against gun manufacturers by Mexico based on wrong decisions by American politicians. , is not a legitimate corporate action.
Fast and Furious
In Fast and Furious during the Obama/Biden Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ordered gun shop owners to sell guns to criminals suspected of having ties to the Mexican cartels, with more than 650 firearms purchased by straw buyers as part of the operation.
Many of these guns were lost and later found at crime scenes on both sides of the border, including the scene of the murder of US Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry.
Despite overwhelming evidence and internal differences of opinion from ATF agents, the Obama administration blocked a congressional investigation into Fast and Furious, demonstrating a lack of transparency and accountability.
This Fast and Furious scandal, in which the US government became a de facto arms dealer for Mexican criminal organizations, should be considered one of the biggest scandals in American history and highlights how wrong and unfair the current lawsuits between Mexican and US arms manufacturers are. .
The Obama administration’s Operation Fast and Furious involved ATF agents instructing gun shop owners to illegally sell firearms to criminals suspected of ties to Mexican drug cartels. More than 650 firearms were purchased by straw buyers as part of Fast and Furious.
Many of these guns were lost and later found at crime scenes on both sides of the Mexican-American border, including at the scene of the murder of US Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry.
Despite a lot of evidence and internal dissent from ATF agents who raised concerns about the flawed strategy of allowing guns to “walk” into the hands of criminals, the Obama administration blocked a congressional investigation into Fast and Furious.
The Justice Department issued a new policy banning gunwalking only after being forced to do so by a congressional hearing in 2011.
Six years later, Congress is still seeking documents related to the Justice Department’s response to the Fast and Furious investigation, pointing to the administration’s lack of transparency and accountability.
The Fast and Furious scandal, in which the US government knowingly supported Mexican criminal organizations, must be considered one of the biggest scandals in American history.
The Fast and the Furious II
The Biden/Obama administration appears to be engaging in another Fast and Furious campaign involving guns and Mexico. Since the Biden/Obama Administration has been unable to shut down gun manufacturers in the United States, it appears that they are relying on Mexico to do the dirty work.
Mexico is suing American gun manufacturers and several Democratic politicians and state attorneys general are supporting Mexico in its lawsuit against US gun manufacturers:
- Thirteen states and Washington DC, all led by Democratic attorneys general, have filed briefs opposing gun manufacturers’ motions to dismiss the case. They argue the Protection of Traffickers in Arms Act (PLCAA) does not protect companies from accountability.
- California Attorney General Rob Bonta stated that the PLCAA may offer some protections, but it does not give manufacturers a “free pass” to let their products end up in dangerous hands in Mexico.
- Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey is asking the court to recognize that gun manufacturers, dealers, and distributors can be held accountable for the way their products are marketed or sold in a way that facilitates illegal trade into Mexico.
- The countries of Antigua and Barbuda and Belize have also filed amicus briefs in support of Mexico’s lawsuit, as has a coalition of US gun violence prevention organizations like Everytown for Gun Safety and the Giffords Law Center.
Opposition to the Mexican lawsuit appears to come primarily from Republican state attorneys general and lawmakers who have filed briefs asking the Supreme Court to hear the case and dismiss the Mexican lawsuit.
Mexico’s $10 billion lawsuit against US gun manufacturers, including Smith & Wesson, Colt, Glock, Beretta, and Ruger, alleges that the companies intentionally designed and sold firearms to attract criminal organizations in Mexico. However, this lawsuit is wrong and unfair for several reasons:
- Weapons are designed for legitimate purposes: Firearms are primarily tools for self-defense, hunting, and shooting sports. While criminals can misuse it, the features Mexico calls for, such as compatibility with high-capacity magazines and removable serial numbers, are common on many firearms and should not attract criminals. The US gun industry operates under strict regulations, and deliberately designing guns to attract criminals would be unethical and illegal.
- The marketing claims are baseless: Mexico alleges that US gun manufacturers marketing promises buyers “tactical military experience” for civilians, encouraging illegal use. However, this claim is not supported by evidence. Responsible gun companies promote the legal use of their products through educational materials and safety programs.
- The Obama administration’s Fast and Furious scandal: In a misguided attempt to track weapons, Obama’s Operation Fast and Furious allowed a significant number of firearms to potentially end up with Mexican drug cartels. The US government became a de facto arms dealer for Mexican criminals, a scandal that must be considered one of the biggest in American history. This is not the idea or the action of the weapons manufacturer.
- Iran-Contra Relations: During the Reagan administration, the US government secretly facilitated arms sales to Iran, which were then used to finance the Contras rebel group in Nicaragua. This scandal, like Fast and Furious, shows that the US government has a history of complicity in the illegal arms trade, not arms manufacturers.
- Hold manufacturers accountable for criminal acts: Merely selling a product that is later used by someone in a crime does not make the manufacturer liable. Criminals, not manufacturers, are to blame for gun violence in Mexico. Holding US companies accountable for the misuse of their products sets a dangerous precedent and could bankrupt the firearms industry.
In conclusion, the Supreme Court should reject Mexico’s lawsuit against US arms manufacturers. The claims are baseless, and the lawsuit seeks to hold the company accountable for the actions of criminals and wrongful US government policies. Maintaining this lawsuit would set a dangerous precedent and harm the legitimate firearms industry.
Biden/Obama’s Fast and Furious II appears to be a continuation of this regime’s assault on the 2nd amendment.
