**BALTIMORE**
Baltimore has initiated a lawsuit against the firearm manufacturer Glock, citing design characteristics that allow its pistols to be easily modified into fully automatic weapons. This modification capability, as per attorneys filing the complaint on Wednesday, enables criminals to cause greater harm, thereby increasing the dangers faced by city residents.
The lawsuit follows other similar legal actions against Glock filed in locations such as Chicago, Minnesota, and New Jersey. These lawsuits contend that Glock has failed to ensure public safety by distributing firearms that can be easily upgraded with inexpensive switches, effectively allowing for continuous fire at rates as high as 1,200 rounds per minute. This functionality transforms the weapons from firing one bullet per trigger pull to a rapid-fire mode.
Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown highlighted the severity of the situation during a press conference, stating, “That’s faster than the weapons of war that I used in the Army.” He characterized the weapon’s use in such a manner as ‘spray and pray,’ indicating a complete lack of control over gunfire and resulting in widespread destruction.
The state of Maryland has joined Baltimore as a co-plaintiff in the case, reinforcing the collective stand against the proliferation of such dangerous firearms.
These modification tools, often referred to as Glock switches or auto sears, are obtainable for as little as $20 and can even be created through 3D printing. Authorities have noted a growing frequency of these devices at crime scenes in recent years.
While Glock isn’t the sole manufacturer whose firearms can be modified in this way, critics assert that their handguns are among the most susceptible to conversion. Federal regulations generally prohibit the sales and possession of machine guns, emphasizing the seriousness of the issue.
“Glock could have designed its pistols to impede the function of auto sears, but they opted not to. That decision has resulted in loss of life,” Brown remarked.
Glock has not yet provided a comment regarding the lawsuit, nor has it responded to previous inquiries about related legal issues. A representative of the gun industry has criticized the lawsuits from New Jersey and Minnesota, labeling them as retaliatory claims that exploit the legal system and ignore federal statutes.
According to a report by the anti-violence organization Everytown for Gun Safety, modified Glock handguns frequently appear in criminal activities. Eric Tirschwell, the executive director of Everytown Law, which is representing the plaintiffs in the Maryland case, stated that Glock has long recognized that the easy ability to modify these guns serves as a selling point.
Glock is widely recognized for its strong presence among law enforcement personnel, typically serving as their firearm of choice. However, Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley has noted that the surge in availability of Glock switches has left officers increasingly outmatched by armed criminals.
In 2024, Baltimore police reported seizing 65 modified Glocks, significantly up from 35 the year prior. Alarmingly, around half of the individuals arrested with these altered firearms in 2023 were under the age of 21, according to the lawsuit. The complaint asserts that the prevalence of Glock switches contributes to a growing culture of violence among youth in Baltimore.
The lawsuit filed in Baltimore’s state court accuses Glock of breaching Maryland’s public nuisance statutes. It seeks not only an injunction to halt the sale of specific firearms in the state but also a court order demanding the implementation of safety measures along with compensation that could fund anti-violence initiatives.
Last year, the Maryland General Assembly passed legislation enabling civil actions against gun industry members who do not adhere to basic safety standards. Another bill was enacted, prohibiting the sale of these conversion devices.
Additionally, Baltimore has taken legal action against the ghost gun manufacturer Polymer80. The company agreed to cease sales of its untraceable, unassembled guns to residents of Maryland in a settlement last year, ultimately shutting down following a wave of lawsuits.
Although Baltimore has seen notable declines in gun violence attributed to effective anti-violence strategies, better policing, and recovery efforts from the pandemic, Mayor Brandon Scott emphasized his administration’s commitment to utilizing “all available resources” to sustain these improvements, including through civil litigation.
