New Jersey Sues Glock Over Handguns Easily Converted to Illegal Machine Guns

NEW JERSEY - New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin announced a groundbreaking lawsuit against Glock, Inc. and Glock Ges.m.b.H., accusing the gun manufacturer of facilitating gun violence by designing and distributing handguns easily converted into illegal machine guns. The lawsuit, filed in New Jersey Superior Court’s Chancery Division, seeks to halt the sale of these firearms in the state and obtain restitution for public harm caused by Glock’s allegedly unsafe practices.

The Issue: Handguns Turned Machine Guns

The lawsuit centers on Glock’s semi-automatic pistols, which can be modified with inexpensive and widely available devices called “Glock switches.” These small, external add-ons can be purchased online for less than $20 or produced using a 3D printer. Once attached to the backplate of a Glock handgun, the switch enables the firearm to fire up to 1,200 rounds per minute with a single trigger pull—matching or exceeding the rate of military-grade automatic weapons.

According to the complaint, Glock has been aware of this vulnerability in its handgun design since at least the 1980s, when founder Gaston Glock introduced a prototype switch that could convert a semi-automatic weapon into a machine gun. Despite requests from law enforcement and regulators to modify its design to prevent such conversions, Glock has refused to act.

“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,” said Attorney General Platkin. “Glock’s ownership sits in Austria lining their pockets with profits paid for by American bloodshed fueled by their products — and we are sick of it. Our message today to Glock is clear: the days of putting greed ahead of the safety of our residents and law enforcement officers are over.”

Increasing Threats in New Jersey

New Jersey has some of the nation’s strictest gun laws, including bans on the possession, manufacture, or sale of machine guns. However, the state has seen a surge in gun violence involving Glock handguns, including those converted into illegal machine guns.

From 2020 to 2023, recoveries of Glock firearms linked to crimes in New Jersey more than doubled. Law enforcement reports an increasing number of switched Glocks during investigations of home invasions, narcotics sales, and fatal shootings. Many of these incidents involve minors, both as victims and perpetrators.

The lawsuit highlights how the rapid-fire capability of switched Glocks, coupled with their decreased accuracy due to recoil, creates a heightened danger to public safety.

“Glock knows that its guns are commonly switched to machine guns and routinely used to perpetrate violent crime, but has done nothing meaningful to stop it,” said Ravi Ramanathan, Director of the Statewide Affirmative Firearms Enforcement Office (SAFE). “Just like for any other product, in any other industry, the manufacturer of a product that could be so easily, illegally, and dangerously altered is legally required to modify its design to keep the public safe. Sales of the dangerous product would stop. The gun industry should not be treated differently than any other industry. That is what we are demanding today.”

Allegations Against Glock

The state’s lawsuit accuses Glock of violating New Jersey’s 2022 firearms industry public safety law and the Product Liability Act by knowingly enabling the proliferation of illegal machine guns. Among the allegations:

• Trademark Ties: Many Glock switches bear Glock’s registered trademark, creating the perception that the company condones or is associated with their use. Glock has allegedly taken no action to dissociate itself from these products.
• Profit Incentive: The company’s refusal to modify its designs benefits its bottom line, as the ease of conversion appeals to certain buyers, including those involved in criminal activities.
• Regulatory Defiance: Glock has ignored requests from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) to make its firearms less susceptible to modification.

Broader Efforts and Legal Goals

The lawsuit aligns with a broader initiative to hold firearm manufacturers accountable for their role in gun violence. On the same day, Minnesota filed a similar lawsuit against Glock, and New Jersey announced the formation of a multistate coalition targeting irresponsible practices within the firearms industry.

New Jersey’s legal action seeks to bar Glock from selling these “switchable” firearms to civilians through its statewide dealer network and demands restitution for the harm caused by their use.

Attorney General Platkin emphasized that this case is part of a wider effort to prioritize public safety. The Attorney General’s office is represented in this case by Special Counsel Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP and members of the Division of Law’s Special Litigation Section.

This lawsuit could mark a significant turning point in addressing the intersection of gun design, illegal modifications, and public safety, setting the stage for potential nationwide implications.

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