Minnesota and New Jersey sued Glock, Inc. (Glock) and its parent company Glock Ges.m.b.H. in their respective states on Thursday for selling semi-automatic handguns that are easily convertible to machine guns.
The two states are seeking an injunction that would prevent Glock from selling such handguns, and Minnesota specifically seeks an order for Glock to modify their handgun design to prevent easy machine-gun modifications. Both states’ attorney generals claimed that while Glock sells semi-automatic handguns, it does so knowing that their guns have a design that makes them particularly easy to convert. They additionally claimed that Glock sells their semi-automatic handguns knowing that their handguns are often converted into automatic handguns by US customers. They explained that Glock’s handguns are convertible to machine guns by installing a component called a “switch“ on the back of the gun frame. The attorney generals asserted that Glock does not manufacture or sell switches in the US, but other companies do while placing Glock’s logo on the switch.
The complaints stated that Glock has known about its handguns’ ease of conversion to machine guns for around 40 years. They initially pointed to Glock’s founder automatically firing their original handgun model installed with a switch-like component called a “fire selector system.” Among the complaints were also events highlighted within the last seven years, such as Glock advertisements on social media promoting automatic firing and letters sent by government officials requesting Glock handgun design change after mass shootings by their handguns with switches.
New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin stated in a press release: “With this lawsuit, we are putting the homemade machine gun industry out of business. For decades, Glock has knowingly sold weapons that anyone with a screwdriver and a YouTube video can convert into a military-grade machine gun in a matter of minutes.” Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison also shared in a press statement: “Glock’s actions, and their inaction, violate Minnesota law, and put kids, communities and law enforcement in danger… Today’s lawsuit against Glock is about protecting our kids and protecting the guardians who look out for us.”
The attorney generals expressed concern over the number of gun violence incidents over the past four years. Minnesota’s complaint specifically asserted evidence of increased gun violence in Minneapolis from 2019 to 2022. The complaint stated that the number of gunshot victims increased by 101 percent, the number of shooting-related phone calls increased by 133 percent, the number of firearm rounds detected was up 230 percent, and the number of discharged cartridge casings recovered from crime scenes was up 263 percent despite the number of firearms recovered from crime scenes being up 13 percent.
Glock is a subsidiary of Glock Ges.m.b.H based in Georgia and established in 1985. Glock only sells semi-automatic handguns in the US. Minnesota and New Jersey laws prohibit machine-gun ownership, possession and operation, with machine guns defined by the capacity to fire multiple shots with only one trigger pull. Glock prides itself on being “more durable, reliable, and easier to maintain” by having a significantly small average of 35 components for its handguns.
