Lawsuit could upend the gun industry

+ the difference between reason and faith US Edition - Today's top story: Mexico is suing US gun-makers for arming its gangs − and a US court could award billions in damages [View in browser]( US Edition | 16 February 2024 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Top headlines - [LGBTQ+ romance books are booming]( - [Forest Service budget shrinks ahead of wildfire season]( - [One, two, three, four – what’ll be your quiz score?]( Lead story Gun violence often seems like a distinctively American problem. In the past week alone, there have been shootings at a Super Bowl parade in Missouri, a megachurch in Texas and a subway station in New York City − not to mention the countless tragedies that didn’t make the news. So far in 2024, more than 5,000 Americans have died from gun violence. The thoughts and prayers, it seems, aren’t working.
 But while gun violence is a distinctively American problem, it’s not contained here. Firearm death rates in Mexico are even higher than those in the U.S., and many of those slayings are committed with American-made weapons illegally trafficked south of the border. The government of Mexico has had enough − and it’s going to court. It’s filed a multibillion-dollar lawsuit against multiple U.S. gun manufacturers whose weapons were used by Mexican drug cartels. It may seem like a quixotic effort, but in law professor Timothy D. Lytton’s analysis, it stands a chance of succeeding – and could end up [reshaping the gun industry](. [[How faith and religion drive the world. Sign up for our weekly newsletter, This Week in Religion.](] Tracy Walsh Economy + Business Editor A sign in Laredo, Texas, reminds motorists not to smuggle guns into Mexico. Gilles Mingasson/Getty Images [Mexico is suing US gun-makers for arming its gangs − and a US court could award billions in damages]( Timothy D. Lytton, Georgia State University Mexico claims that US firearm manufacturers are fueling illegal cross-border gun trafficking and violent crime abroad. Environment + Energy - [Forest Service warns of budget cuts ahead of a risky wildfire season – what that means for safety]( Camille Stevens-Rumann, Colorado State University; Jude Bayham, Colorado State University A hot, dry summer on the heels of a wet winter raises the risk of wildfires. Arts + Culture - [What’s behind the astonishing rise in LGBTQ+ romance literature?]( Christine Larson, University of Colorado Boulder; Ashley Carter, University of Colorado Boulder It’s tempting to see this trend as a sign of the times. But the biggest book publishers started changing their approach only once they realized they were leaving money on the table. Science + Technology - [Cult of the drone: At the two-year mark, UAVs have changed the face of war in Ukraine – but not outcomes]( Paul Lushenko, US Army War College Drones have dominated images of the war in Ukraine, but an expert on drone warfare casts doubt on many of the grand claims made for the weapons. Education - [A Bronx school district offers lessons in boosting student mental health]( Faiza Jamil, Clemson University Giving students a voice in decision-making helps foster well-being, research has found. Politics + Society - [Candidates’ aging brains are factors in the presidential race − 4 essential reads]( Jeff Inglis, The Conversation Both men have faced criticism about what can appear to be obvious signs of aging, including questions about their memory and cognitive abilities. Ethics + Religion - [As a rabbi, philosopher and physician, Maimonides wrestled with religion and reason – the book he wrote to reconcile them, ‘Guide to the Perplexed,’ has sparked debate ever since]( Randy L. Friedman, Binghamton University, State University of New York Faith and reason are often treated as opposites. But some philosophers believe they can only strengthen each other, including the Jewish sage Maimonides, who wrote the famous ‘Guide to the Perplexed.’ International - [100 years of radio in Africa: from propaganda to people’s power]( Sisanda Nkoala, University of the Western Cape; Christina Chan-Meetoo, University of Mauritius; Jacinta Mwende Maweu, University of Nairobi; Marissa J. Moorman, Indiana University; Modestus Fosu, Ghana Institute of Journalism; Stanley Tsarwe, University of Namibia With a dramatic political history, radio is today the number one source of news in Africa. 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