October Term 2024 · Docket 23-1141
Does Mexico's claim of cartel violence satisfy the PLCAA predicate exception?
Mexico sues gunmakers for aiding cartel violence. The gunmakers argue the PLCAA bars the suit.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official Court opinion was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Ms. Stetson argued Mexico's complaint pleads specific federal gun law violations.
Ms. Stetson stated those violations proximately caused Mexico's harm.
Ms. Stetson claimed this satisfies the PLCAA predicate exception.
Mr. Francisco argued Mexico asserts gunmakers are responsible for cartel violence.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 19-15 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 19-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 55-11 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 55-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 15-9 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 15-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 17-49 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 17-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 51-45 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 51-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 53-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 53-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 13-13 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 13-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 27-41 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 27-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 21-51 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 21-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 27-49 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 27-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 49-35 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 49-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 83, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 83, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 87, lines 51-45 — Transcript, file page 87, lines 51-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 95, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 95, lines 43-49
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Mexico claims gunmakers aided and abetted federal gun law violations. The gunmakers argue the PLCAA bars such suits.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 15-9 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 15-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 17-49 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 17-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 95, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 95, lines 43-49
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 4, 2025.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 87, lines 51-45 — Transcript, file page 87, lines 51-45
What each side wants
Mexico wants the Court to allow its lawsuit to proceed.
Smith & Wesson wants the Court to dismiss the lawsuit.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 15-9 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 15-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 17-49 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 17-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 95, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 95, lines 43-49
What each side says
Mexico argues its complaint satisfies the PLCAA predicate exception.
Smith & Wesson argues the PLCAA bars the lawsuit.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 15-9 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 15-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 17-49 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 17-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 95, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 95, lines 43-49
What the justices asked
Justice Thomas asked if a specific statute violation changes the case.
Justice Sotomayor asked how the Court should resolve conflicting proximate cause cases.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 19-15 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 19-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 55-11 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 55-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 51-45 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 51-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 53-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 53-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 13-13 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 13-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 27-41 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 27-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 21-51 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 21-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 27-49 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 27-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 49-35 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 49-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 83, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 83, lines 17-23
Why it matters
This case defines the scope of the PLCAA. It determines whether gunmakers face liability for foreign cartel violence.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 15-9 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 15-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 17-49 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 17-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 95, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 95, lines 43-49
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 19-15 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 19-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 55-11 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 55-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 51-45 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 51-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 53-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 53-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 13-13 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 13-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 27-41 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 27-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 21-51 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 21-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 27-49 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 27-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 49-35 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 49-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 83, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 83, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 87, lines 51-45 — Transcript, file page 87, lines 51-45
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Verified official opinions and orders
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 15-9 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 15-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 17-49 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 17-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 95, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 95, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 15-9 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 15-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 17-49 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 17-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 95, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 95, lines 43-49
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.