A lawsuit brought by the government of Mexico against five Arizona gun stores is allowed to move forward. It’s the latest movement on a pair of cases filed by Mexico over guns trafficked across the border. 

Mexico filed this lawsuit in October 2022 — arguing the stores play an active role in trafficking guns across the border into Mexico through things like straw sales and reckless marketing practices — thus contributing to the high rates of gun violence in the country. 

In a February hearing in Tucson, attorneys for the five stores asked the judge to drop the case, arguing that Mexico lacked standing to bring it.

This week, District Court Judge Rosemary Marquez ruled Mexico’s claims alleging negligence and damages could move forward, while the claims alleging consumer fraud and racketeering would be dismissed.

In January, a federal court in Boston ruled Mexico’s other suit — against major US.. gun makers — could also move forward.