John Lindsay-Poland: Hostile Environment Awaits Mexico in U.S. Court After Lawsuit Against Gun Shops

The Mexican government should also ask for an accounting of what the US did against arms trafficking, considered activist John Lindsay-Poland.

John Lindsay-Poland, coordinator of the Stop US Arms to Mexico initiative, warned that a hostile environment awaits Mexico’s legal team at the U.S. Supreme Court.

On Tuesday the U.S. Court will discuss the admissibility of the lawsuit filed by the Mexican government in Boston, Massachusetts, against the arms manufacturers and despite their arguments, the proximity to the White House and the interests of these groups may weigh more than the violent reality of the trafficking of these things. 

“The U.S. Supreme Court is a very hostile environment for this issue. So it’s very possible that the Court will harm not only Mexico’s lawsuit, but also other, other possible remedies against gun violence,” he said in an interview with MILENIO.

So the outlook isn’t so encouraging on the judicial front; however, Lindsay-Poland believes it will help change the public conversation about the responsibility of the United States in both drug and arms trafficking.

But he considered that it’s not an easy task as a fight is being waged against an industry that makes millions in profits every year.

“We are talking about around 200,000 guns trafficked from the United States to Mexico each year. The value of each weapon varies both at the point of purchase within Mexico and at the level of the point of purchase within the United States. 

“So they can be pistols that sell for $500 in the United States, which are then more expensive inside Mexico, or they can be more expensive guns, a thousand, two thousand, or 50 caliber rifles sell for $10, $12 thousand inside the United States. In Mexico they are sold for two or three times that value,” he said.

The activist considered that just as the White House has taken radical measures since the beginning of this administration, it should also sign executive orders to curb arms trafficking.

He suggested, for example, that they could remove assault weapons such as .50 caliber rifles from the market and also order the inspection of gun shops involved in arms trafficking.

“Arrest people who are trafficking the guns. President Trump made a promise to President Sheinbaum that he was going to take steps to prevent the flow of high-powered weapons into Mexico

“So, in these 30 days, which expire this Tuesday, March 4 as well, it must measure, the United States must report how many guns it has confiscated, how many gun shops it has inspected, what legislation it is supporting, what executive orders it is issuing to stem that flow of guns,” she pointed out.

However, without daring to predict what might happen, Lindsay-Poland made it clear that there is a good relationship between the Trump administration and the gun industry “is a friend.”

In this context, he accepted that the White House will not put obstacles against this industry but at the same time, it has to be congruent with the discourse so focused against drug cartels and their allies “if it is demanding these measures, then I think it is very possible that the administration takes action”.

Finally, he explained that Mexico’s demand opens the possibility of seeing if the Trump administration’s plans are a reality or just a show.

Lindsay-Poland mentioned that designating cartels as terrorists opens the possibility that the Pentagon and other intelligence agencies will take real action against people or companies involved with criminal groups.

“We’ll find out if it’s a show, if it’s a speech or if it leads to action. I think in part these actions by Trump are pressure measures. 

“They want Mexico to do such and such and such. Then they threaten with something that suddenly isn’t part of the plans, but they show the possibility of military action or other actions to get commitments from Mexico,” he clarified.

Finally, he mentioned that the actions taken by Mexico in the last month are a sign of good will to cooperate and the same, he said, should be demanded from the Trump administration.

Source: Milenio