Maryland Attorney General, Baltimore Sue Glock Over ‘Glock Switch’ Modifications

Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott have filed a lawsuit against gun manufacturer Glock, Inc., alleging the company’s firearms are easily modified into illegal machine guns and are fueling gun violence across Baltimore and the state. The lawsuit, filed in partnership with Everytown Law and Motley Rice LLC, argues that Glock has contributed to public safety risks by allowing its semiautomatic pistols to be altered with auto sears, commonly known as “Glock switches.” These devices, which are illegal, enable pistols to fire at machine gun rates, making them increasingly prevalent in crimes throughout Maryland.

The lawsuit, filed in the Circuit Court of Maryland for Baltimore City, names both Glock, Inc. and its Austrian parent company, Glock Ges.m.b.H., as defendants. It marks the first case brought under Maryland’s Gun Industry Accountability Act, which was enacted in 2024 to hold firearm manufacturers accountable for gun violence linked to their products. Plaintiffs claim that Glock has long been aware of how easily its pistols can be converted yet has failed to implement measures to prevent their modification. The suit seeks to halt the sale of these pistols to Maryland civilians and demands restitution for damages the state and city have suffered due to their use in crimes.

Baltimore officials report that the presence of fully automatic Glock pistols at crime scenes has sharply increased. From 2023 to 2024, at least 100 illegally modified Glocks were recovered by the Baltimore Police Department, nearly double the number from the previous year. The lawsuit highlights that a significant portion of those arrested with these weapons were under the age of 21, underscoring concerns about their impact on youth violence. Authorities also point to incidents where officers were fired upon with these weapons, emphasizing the threat posed by their widespread availability.

Glock pistols equipped with switches can fire up to 1,200 rounds per minute, making them as lethal as military-grade firearms. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has identified these modifications as a major concern, as cities nationwide report an increase in crimes involving machine gun conversion devices. A recent Everytown for Gun Safety report found that in 2023 alone, more than 560 such devices were recovered in 20 cities, with Glock switches accounting for the majority.

Baltimore joins other jurisdictions, including Chicago, New Jersey, and Minnesota, in suing Glock for its alleged role in the rise of illegal machine guns on American streets. The legal action follows a July 2024 lawsuit filed by the City of Chicago, with additional lawsuits brought by attorneys general from multiple states. Mayor Scott, who co-chairs the national coalition Mayors Against Illegal Guns, emphasized that addressing gun violence requires holding firearm manufacturers accountable.

Maryland’s legal team is led by Assistant Attorney General Joshua Chazen, while Baltimore’s representation includes city attorneys Sara Gross and Tom Webb. Everytown Law and Motley Rice LLC are also providing legal counsel in the case.

Article by multiple RFHC contributors.

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