Maryland and the city of Baltimore filed a lawsuit against Glock on Wednesday, accusing the company of enabling the conversion of its pistols into high-powered, automatic weapons. The lawsuit, filed in Baltimore City Circuit Court, seeks to force the gun manufacturer to take action to prevent owners from modifying its firearms into machine guns that can fire up to 1,200 rounds per minute.
The case is the first to test Maryland’s Gun Industry Accountability Act, which was passed last year to hold gun makers accountable for the misuse of their products. Authorities argue that Glock pistols can be easily modified with a part called an “auto sear,” or “Glock switch,” which makes them capable of firing continuously, resembling the deadly capabilities of machine guns.
According to the complaint, these conversion parts are inexpensive, costing as little as $20 from third-party sellers. They can also be produced using 3D printing technology. Glock pistols, originally designed as semiautomatic weapons, become lethal fully automatic firearms when modified with these parts.
Federal law banned the sale of most machine guns to the public in 1934, during the era of notorious gangsters such as Al Capone. Despite this, Glock’s modification allows civilians to easily bypass the law, turning their handguns into fully automatic weapons.
Glock, an Austrian-based company, has not yet commented on the lawsuit. This legal action follows similar cases filed in Minnesota, New Jersey, and Chicago. In Chicago, Glock argued that it should not be held responsible for actions taken by third-party vendors and pointed to a 2005 federal law that shields gun manufacturers from certain liabilities.
Baltimore, Maryland’s largest city, has struggled with high levels of violent crime, including some of the highest murder rates among major U.S. cities. Although homicide and non-fatal shooting rates have decreased in recent years, Mayor Brandon Scott warned that the growing presence of modified Glocks and so-called ghost guns—untraceable firearms made privately—are still a significant threat to public safety.
In 2024, Baltimore police recovered over 65 modified Glocks, a sharp increase from 35 the previous year. The lawsuit also noted the widespread cultural references to modified Glocks in media, including video games and music. The 2022 Billboard No. 1 hit “Jimmy Cooks” by Drake, for example, mentions a Glock .45 with a switch.
“By failing to implement reasonable controls to prevent illegal modifications, and prioritizing profits over safety, Glock has knowingly contributed to this rising issue and jeopardized the safety of our neighborhoods, our citizens, and our law enforcement officers,” said Mayor Scott during a press conference about the lawsuit.
The lawsuit aims to halt the sale of easily-converted Glocks in Maryland, demand restitution, and recover profits from these unlawful modifications.
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