Minnesota and New Jersey File Lawsuit Against Glock Over Easily Convertible Firearms
The attorneys general of New Jersey and Minnesota assert that Glock’s firearm designs facilitate the conversion of pistols into machine guns, posing a threat to public safety.
On December 12, Minnesota and New Jersey initiated separate lawsuits, alleging that Glock knowingly sells semiautomatic handguns that can be easily modified into illegal machine guns using a low-cost device often referred to as a “Glock switch.”
Both states contend that Glock has been aware of the switchability of its firearms for a significant time, yet the company has failed to implement sufficient measures to avert these perilous transformations.
“Glock’s actions, and their lack of action, breach Minnesota law and jeopardize the safety of children, communities, and law enforcement. This must cease.”
In Minnesota, modified weapons have been linked to tragic events, including a 2021 incident at a Minneapolis nightclub that resulted in the death of bystander Charlie Johnson just hours prior to his college graduation and the 2023 shooting of an undercover police officer in Minneapolis.
Greg Johnson, the father of Charlie, expressed, “Families like ours are scattered across this country, and it’s unacceptable to remain passive: there are reasonable actions that can be taken,” as stated by Ellison.
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Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara has voiced support for the lawsuit, stating that the manufacturer should be responsible “for making it far too simple to enact violence,” as per the statement.
“Through this lawsuit, we aim to eliminate the homemade machine gun market,” Platkin emphasized in a statement accompanying the suit.
“For years, Glock has knowingly provided weapons that anyone with a screwdriver and a YouTube tutorial can convert into a military-grade machine gun within minutes.”
He asserted that Glock’s ownership profits at the cost of American lives.
Both lawsuits allege that the company has declined to redesign its handguns to restrict or prevent their easy conversion to fully automatic firing capability.
The suits point out that Glock handguns dominate the U.S. market, and Glock switches can be purchased online at low prices or manufactured using 3D printing. While Glock does not produce the switches, many feature the Glock logo, blurring lines of responsibility and awareness, as claimed in the lawsuits.
Officials from both states indicate that holding Glock civilly accountable complements criminal actions against individual gun offenders.
They emphasize that corporations allowing their products to be easily misused must also bear responsibility.
As of publication time, Glock had not responded to requests for comments regarding the lawsuits and complaints filed in court.
