Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) joined Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), U.S. Representatives Madeleine Dean (D-PA), Jamie Raskin (D-MD) along with 10 Senators and 33 Representatives to file an amicus brief in the ongoing Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. et al., v. Estados Unidos Mexicanos case to ensure gun manufacturers are held accountable for the production and sale of firearms that aids in illegal arms trafficking.
“This decision in this case will be critical in curbing the gun violence caused by illegal arms trafficking. We must attack this problem at every level — and in this epidemic of violence, the gun manufacturers must be held accountable for their role in this tragedy,” said Senator Schiff.
“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 that claimed a right to fuel violence and chaos. I’m proud to continue my work stopping dangerous gun industry practices,” said Blumenthal.
“Gun violence is a scourge that affects every community in this country,” 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.”
The amicus brief was led by Blumenthal, Dean, and Raskin and joined by U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Adam B. Schiff (D-CA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR). It was also joined by U.S. Representatives Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT), Gabe Amo (D-RI), Becca Balint (D-VT), Julia Brownley (D-CA), André Carson (D-IN), Sean Casten (D-IL), Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), Danny K. Davis (D-IL), Bill Foster (D-IL), Valerie P. Foushee (D-NC), Dan Goldman (D-NY), Glenn Ivey (D-MD), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr (D-GA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Seth Magaziner (D-RI), Betty McCollum (D-MN), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Mike Quigly (D-IL), Delia C. Ramirez (D-IL), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Mike Thompson (D-CA), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Jill Tokuda (D-HI), Paul D. Tonko (D-NY), and Maxine Waters (D-CA).
The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to hear oral arguments in this case on March 4, 2025.
The lawmakers’ amicus brief to the Supreme Court can be found here.
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