Minnesota AG sues gun-maker Glock over pistol ‘switch’ modification

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Updated  December 12, 2024 1:08pm CST
FOX 9
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MN Attorney General sues gun-maker Glock [RAW]

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison filed a lawsuit Thursday morning against Glock, a firearms manufacturer, over its pistol "switch" conversion capability. The lawsuit claims the gun-maker has known since the 1908s that the firearm's design allowed for easy modifications to function as a fully automatic weapon.

The Brief

    • The State of Minnesota filed a civil lawsuit on Thursday against Glock – one of the largest gun manufacturers in the world.
    • The lawsuit says the gun-maker’s pistols are easily modified into fully automatic firearms with an inexpensive modification known as a "switch" or "auto sear."
    • The Department of Justice says a "switch" modification can allow a handgun to fire approximately 1,100 – 1,200 rounds per minute, making them "exceptionally lethal."

ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison filed a lawsuit Thursday morning against firearms manufacturer Glock over its pistol "switch" conversion capability. 

Ellison files lawsuit against Glock

A Glock.

What we know: The Minnesota Attorney General’s Office is filing a lawsuit against Glock for its design, manufacture and sale of semi-automatic guns which can be easily converted into illegal machine guns.

The civil lawsuit claims the gun-maker was aware since the 1980s that the design of its pistols allowed for easy modification to make the gun function like a fully automatic firearm. 

What they're saying: "Glock has known about this problem for decades, and has done nothing. A change of design could prevent these handguns from being turned into illegal automatic weapons," Ellison said. "But Glock has turned a blind eye --and again and again, the death toll continues to rise."

"Glock’s actions and their inaction violate Minnesota law and put kids, communities and law enforcement in danger. And this has to stop," Ellison added.

What is pistol switch modification?

Big picture view: The attorney general said Glock promotes automatic weapons to the public, even though they can only be sold to law enforcement. He explained turning a Glock from a semiautomatic firearm into an illegal machine gun is relatively cheap and easy. It requires a Glock switch, which can be purchased online and doesn’t require any special tools or knowledge to install.

Glock is violating several Minnesota laws, according to Ellison, including the Prevention of Consumer Fraud Act, the Deceptive Trade Practices Act, the False Statement and Advertising Act, as well as public nuisance, negligence and product liability laws.

By the numbers: The attorney general said two out of every three guns sold in the United States is a Glock. In 2023, the Minneapolis Police Department reportedly recovered more than triple the number of Glock switches compared to 2021. Police Chief Brian O’Hara said of the 153 firearms recovered with a switch, 126 of those were Glock firearms.

A similar lawsuit was filed by the City of Chicago in March 2024. 

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.