I founded Global Action on Gun Violence because, after working on gun violence prevention for 25 years, I concluded that we needed to act bigger and bolder to overcome a problem as big and bad as gun violence. That’s why GAGV brought the first lawsuit by a sovereign country against major gun manufacturers. And the first human rights action against the United States for its gun policies. It’s why we’re foreign counsel in the first suit against a U.S. gun manufacturer brought outside of the U.S.It’s why we’rechallenging the gun industry protection law as unconstitutional. And raising alarms about the gun industry’s complicity in gun trafficking and violence throughout the world – at the U.N., at other international tribunals, and in themedia.
And it’s why, on March 4, I was in the Supreme Court of the United States with our legal team, where the highest court in the land heard its first-ever gun industry liability case. We don’t know how the Court will rule – but we do know that GAGV’s work has helped educate and mobilize people around the world to stop the gun industry from enabling transborder gun trafficking.
In a time filled with much depressing news, we’re making progress. Please support us.
Sincerely, Jon Lowy Founder & President
P.S. Donate now to help Global Action on Gun Violence win in the Supreme Court!
Behind Our Landmark Supreme Court Argument
Mexico's legal team in front of the Supreme Court. From left: Steve Shadowen of Hilliard Shadowen, Emily Zoffer of GAGV, Jake Meiseles of GAGV, Jon Lowy of GAGV, Cate Stetson of Hogan Lovells, Pablo A. Arrocha Olabuenaga of the Mexican Foreign Relations Ministry.
Last month, GAGV and our legal partner, Cate Stetson of Hogan Lovells, argued in the Supreme Court of the United States in Estados Unidos Mexicanos v. Smith & Wesson, et al.Mexico’s case alleges that the gun industry has recklessly and unlawfully sold, distributed, and marketed guns that supply the cartel market in Mexico. The SCOTUS ruling is expected in June. Among the widespread media coverage of oral arguments, Rolling Stonejournalist Tim Dickinson interviewed GAGV Founder and President Jon Lowyfor an exploration ofthe case and the argument the Government of Mexico has made against the gun manufacturers.This in-depth interview with Jonprovides crucial background to both the case and the rationale for continuing our innovative legal strategy in the years ahead.Here’s an excerpt:
"Rolling Stone: Walk me through a little bit of what happened at the Supreme Court.
Jon Lowy:I’m counsel on the case. SoI’m going to be a bit bland in what I say. The court was engaged and asked tough questions of both sides.
When manufacturers were up, Chief Justice Roberts was basically saying, at some point, your clients would be the cause of this harm. 'Like, you can draw the line where you want, but if, say, 70 percent of the gun dealer sales were going to Mexico, wouldn’t you recognize that then the manufacturer was a cause?' So that seemed to suggest he recognized that there could be liability in a case like this. It just depends where you draw the line.
Rolling Stone: To what extent did the Second Amendment come up? We covered when Ted Cruz wrote an amicus brief in this case, effectively arguing that a profitable gun industry is necessary to safeguard the Second Amendment — so you can’t go after gun industry profits because, by golly, that would eviscerate access to arms.
Jon Lowy: My view is the cartels do not have Second Amendment rights. There is no Second Amendment right to sell guns to the cartels, even through intermediaries. There’s no Second Amendment right to illegally sell guns. Ninety percent or more of gun dealers obey the law and act in a responsible way. The problem is that the gun industry is using the worst-of-the-worst gun dealers.
This case is about the Mexican criminal market. The gun industry can survive without the illegal Mexican cartel market for firearms.Maybe their revenues would go down a little bit. But they’re not placed in jeopardy. That’ssort of an absurd argument."
GAGV’s lawsuit on behalf of the Government of Mexico has opened the eyes of the world on how U.S. gun policy fuels transnational crime, and this month a renowned Latin American magazine highlighted our work -- and what’s at stake.
Gatopardo, a major Mexican magazine known for its high-quality narrative journalism, blending investigative reporting with literary storytelling, has built a strong reputation across Latin America for in-depth features that explore politics, culture, social issues, and the lives of influential figures. In a deeply reported, almost cinematic feature, Gatopardo tells the story of Victor Avila, a U.S. Homeland Security officer who was wounded in an attack by cartel gunman while on a mission in Mexico -- only to discover the weapons used in the ambush were purchased in an American gun store with the approval of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The story (which you can read here in Spanish) includes an interview with Jon Lowy and some amazing photographs. And you will also be struck by its conclusion, which correctlyidentifies the long-term goals of GAGV and its strategy of international partnerships, even as we fight our major lawsuits to their conclusions:
“Perhaps victory will not lie in the courts. Yes, the quality of the legal argument will be remembered; the will to demonstrate to our neighbors, and to the entire world, that ending the crisis of lethal violence is a shared responsibility.”
Gatopardo article cover
Illegal U.S. Gun Shipments to Haiti Uncovered by the BBC
GAGV contributed to an investigative report by the Global Disinformation Unit of the BBC World Service, which showed how a shipment of assault rifles and pistols traveled from the U.S. to Haiti, fueling deadly gang violence in that country. Their story quotes GAGV, which has pioneered legal action by foreign governments against American gunmakers and distributors:
"Jonathan Lowysays gun makers are told when trafficked guns are under investigation and are aware which dealers are selling guns to traffickers.
'Manufacturers cutting off these dealers would put an immediate stop to most trafficking routes from the US.'"
World Under Fire: GAGV’s Global Action Strategy Explained
Last year, Jon Lowy was invited to give the keynote address at the George Washington University International Law Review symposium, “World Under Fire: Examining the Global Impact of Gun Trafficking and Violence.” His address explained the “global catastrophe” of gun violence, how the U.S. gun industry helps drive it, and what can be done to stop it.His speechhas now been published as the Foreword for a special issue of the George Washington International Law Reviewbased on the symposium. You can read it here or watch the video of Jon's speech online.
Photo credit: The George Washington University International Law Review.
Photo credit: The George Washington University International Law Review.
GAGV At the Center of the Story
No matter how the U.S. Supreme Court rules in June, we already know that Mexico’s historic lawsuit against Smith & Wesson has raised the issue of legal ramifications for the illegal export of American-made firearms to the level of major news coverage. That will matter greatly in the years ahead, as Global Action on Gun Violence pursues more cases in more jurisdictions involving more international governments. Here’s a brief round-up of recentcoverageofGAGV’s workwe thoughtyou’d appreciate:
We are up against the billion-dollar gun industry. But we know we can win. Donate today to help us hold bad actors in the gun industry to account in court. We can't do it without you!
GAGV, we need support for this epic fight. Please use the arrow above the newsletter to share this with family and friends who care about ending gun violence! Thank you!
Mexico's legal team in front of the Supreme Court. From left: Steve Shadowen of Hilliard Shadowen, Emily Zoffer of GAGV, Jake Meiseles of GAGV, Jon Lowy of GAGV, Cate Stetson of Hogan Lovells, Pablo A. Arrocha Olabuenaga of the Mexican Foreign Relations Ministry.
