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3mo ago

Baltimore and Maryland Sue Glock Over Easily Modifiable Handguns

The lawsuit accuses Glock of enabling gun violence by selling pistols that can be readily converted into illegal automatic weapons with inexpensive devices.

A customer tests a Glock 20 10mm handgun at the Guns-R-Us gun shop in Phoenix, Arizona, December 20, 2012. REUTERS/Ralph D. Freso/File Photo
FILE p- A semi-automatic Glock pistol is fired at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), National Services Center, March 2, 2023, in Martinsburg, W.Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
Brandon M. Scott, mayor of Baltimore speaks during the third annual Baltimore Together Summit workshops at Baltimore Center Stage. (Karl M. Ferron/Staff)
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Overview

  • Baltimore and Maryland filed a lawsuit against Glock, alleging the company failed to prevent its pistols from being easily modified into automatic weapons using 'auto sears.'
  • Authorities claim these inexpensive and widely available conversion devices can turn Glock pistols into firearms capable of firing up to 1,200 rounds per minute.
  • The lawsuit seeks to ban sales of certain Glock pistols in Maryland, enforce safety measures, and obtain restitution to address gun violence in the state.
  • Baltimore officials report a rise in modified Glocks recovered at crime scenes, with 65 found in 2024 compared to 35 in 2023, contributing to a growing safety concern.
  • Glock has faced similar lawsuits in Chicago, Minnesota, and New Jersey, and has argued that federal law shields gunmakers from liability for third-party modifications.