States File Lawsuits Targeting Gun Companies Over Violence

Sixteen state attorneys general have joined forces to combat gun violence by filing lawsuits against firearms manufacturers. 

The coalition, led by New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, is taking aim at companies like Glock, alleging that their products violate state laws and contribute to the rising tide of gun-related deaths in the United States. 

States Take Aim at Glock Over “Switch” Controversy

The first salvo in this legal battle has been fired by New Jersey and Minnesota, who have filed separate lawsuits against Glock in their respective state courts. (ref) 

At the heart of these lawsuits is the claim that Glock handguns can be easily modified to fire automatically with the addition of an inexpensive “Glock switch,” effectively turning them into illegal machine guns. 

The Rise of “Glock Switches” & Their Impact

The proliferation of Glock switches has led to a dramatic increase in gun-related crimes and posed new dangers to both civilians and law enforcement officers. 

According to federal data, there has been a staggering 570% rise in the confiscation of machine gun conversion components between 2017 and 2021. (ref) This surge in illegal modifications has coincided with an uptick in gun violence, particularly during the pandemic.

Surge in Glock-Related Crimes Sparks Legal Action

In New Jersey alone, crimes involving Glock handguns have skyrocketed by 104% from 2020 to 2023. (ref)

This alarming trend has prompted state officials to take decisive action against what they perceive as negligence on the part of gun manufacturers. The lawsuits allege that Glock has been aware of the potential for these modifications since the 1980s but has failed to take significant steps to address the issue.

Arguments & Allegations in the Lawsuits

The legal actions against Glock and other firearms manufacturers center around several key points:

• Negligence: States argue that gun makers have knowingly produced weapons that can be easily modified into illegal automatic firearms.
• Consumer protection violations: Lawsuits claim that companies like Glock have engaged in deceptive trade practices and false advertising.
• Public nuisance: Some states are using new laws that grant officials broad authority to address public safety and health issues related to firearms.
• Design flaws: The lawsuits allege that specific design characteristics of Glock pistols make them particularly susceptible to illegal modifications.
• Failure to act: Attorneys general assert that despite being aware of the problem for decades, gun manufacturers have not taken adequate steps to prevent the conversion of their products into machine guns.

Broader Implications & Industry Response

While previous attempts to hold gun manufacturers liable for gun violence have often been thwarted by federal protections, these new legal strategies seek to exploit exceptions and state-level laws to bypass those shields. The success of these lawsuits could potentially reshape the firearms industry and force manufacturers to implement significant changes in their design and marketing practices.

The gun industry, however, maintains that these lawsuits are without merit and represent an attempt to circumvent legislative processes. Gun manufacturers argue that they cannot be held responsible for the criminal misuse of their products and that the modifications in question are illegal aftermarket changes beyond their control. 

The outcome of these legal battles could have far-reaching consequences for both gun manufacturers and the broader debate over gun violence in America.