In a controversial move, the attorneys general of New Jersey and Minnesota filed lawsuits on December 12 against Glock, accusing the gun manufacturer of knowingly producing pistols that can be easily modified into illegal machine guns using inexpensive conversion devices known as “Glock switches.” We’ve all seen this movie before!
The lawsuits claim these switches, which can cost as little as $20 or be fabricated using a 3D printer, enable Glock handguns to fire up to 1,200 rounds per minute with a single trigger pull, according to Reuters. The New Jersey Attorney General’s office alleges that Glock has been aware of this issue since the 1980s but has failed to make design modifications to prevent such conversions.
In a press release, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin emphasized the public safety threat posed by these modified firearms.
“With this lawsuit, we are putting the homemade machine gun industry out of business,” Platkin said in a press release, accusing Glock of prioritizing profits over public safety. Platkin’s lawsuit, filed in the New Jersey Superior Court’s Chancery Division, seeks to halt the sale of these handguns to civilians in the state and demands restitution for the alleged harm caused.
Similarly, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison filed a separate lawsuit, citing incidents where converted Glock handguns have been used in violent crimes in his state. One notable case is the 2021 Minneapolis nightclub shooting that resulted in two deaths, including a college student, Charlie Johnson, who was killed hours before his graduation ceremony. Ellison argues that Glock’s failure to address these risks constitutes negligence and violates Minnesota’s consumer protection laws.
“Glock’s actions, and their inaction, violate Minnesota law and put kids, communities, and law enforcement in danger. This has to stop,” Ellison said in a statement, calling for design changes to prevent such conversions and for the return of profits Glock allegedly earned through these sales.
Background and Broader Implications
Glock, known for producing one of the most trusted and reliable handguns favored by law enforcement agencies worldwide, has faced mounting legal challenges. Earlier this year, the City of Chicago filed a similar lawsuit, alleging that Glock’s design facilitated illegal conversions into machine guns. Glock’s reputation for reliability and simplicity is often cited as a selling point, with many gun enthusiasts, concealed carry practitioners and law enforcement agencies relying on its products. However, these lawsuits highlight concerns about the unintended consequences of the firearm’s design, while neglecting the obvious criminality of the people who misuse the firearms to do harm to others.
The lawsuits from New Jersey and Minnesota are part of a broader push by a coalition of Democratic attorneys general from 15 states and the District of Columbia to hold gun manufacturers accountable. This legal strategy mirrors actions taken against other manufacturers, such as the $73 million settlement reached with Remington Arms following the Sandy Hook shooting, according to Reuters. It’s a clear admission by these state’s that they are either unable or unwilling to combat crime at the root cause level, so instead, will go after legally operating companies in a blatant money-grab to fill their state’s coffers.
Industry Pushback
The NSSF and other 2A organizations have criticized these lawsuits as baseless, noting that Glock does not manufacture or sell the conversion devices. Glock has not yet issued a public statement on the lawsuits but has previously denied responsibility for modifications made to its firearms by third parties, Reuters reports.
Platkin’s office shared a video in their press release of an ATF demonstration of a switch in use on a Glock pistol:
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