SEATTLE — In a bold legal move, the Seattle City Attorney’s Office has filed a civil lawsuit accusing Glock, a globally recognized firearms manufacturer, of enabling illegal conversions of its semi-automatic handguns into near-machine guns. The suit, submitted earlier this week in King County Superior Court, seeks to declare Glock pistols a public nuisance under Washington law. Plaintiffs are demanding changes to their firearm designs and the prohibition of sales that fuel violent crime.
Ann Davison, Seattle’s City Attorney, argues that the key to the problem lies in the notorious device known as the “Glock switch.” This small, inexpensive accessory can effectively disable the trigger’s sear, allowing a Glock to fire continuously with a single pull, discharging up to 30 rounds in just two seconds.
“Converted Glocks are disproportionately contributing to violent incidents in our city,” said Davison. “They threaten not only residents but also our first responders. We must hold manufacturers accountable when they prioritize device design over public safety.”
Why Seattle Says It’s a Nuisance
The lawsuit doesn’t stop at Glock. It also names three local authorized Glock dealers, Bull’s Eye Indoor Range (Tacoma), Pantel Tactical (Renton), and Rainier Arms (Auburn), accusing them of amplifying the problem either by selling these dangerous conversions or promoting their use on social media channels.
In the 61-page complaint, Seattle claims Glock has long known, allegedly for nearly four decades, that its design is susceptible to such modifications, yet has refused to implement safer alternatives adopted by other manufacturers.
Seattle Police Department data strengthen the city’s argument: shell casings collected from shooting scenes nearly doubled from 2,514 in 2020 to 5,746 in 2023. Meanwhile, “Glock switches” have been identified in at least 20 incidents in 2023 and 38 in 2024 alone.
A particularly tragic example cited in the suit involved a May shooting in Pioneer Square that left three people dead, and several others critically injured, an incident investigators suspect involved converted Glock firearms.
Legal and Public Safety Implications
Seattle is asking the court to order Glock to redesign its firearms to block such easy conversion. The city argues that other manufacturers have made design changes to prevent automatic firing, choices from which Glock has repeatedly abstained.
Critics of the lawsuit, however, view it as misguided. William Kirk, a Washington legal commentator, calls it “a waste of time,” arguing the fault lies not with Glock or legal gun owners, but with those criminals committing the illegal modifications.
Others believe the lawsuit may face hurdles under the 2005 Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), which generally shields firearm manufacturers from liability when their legally sold products are used in crimes.
Expanding Movement
Seattle is not alone in this legal approach. Similar actions have been taken by cities and states such as Chicago, Baltimore, Minnesota, and Maryland.
As litigation proceeds, the outcome could have sweeping implications, either incentivizing Glock to redesign its handguns, prompting legislative change, or reinforcing protections for firearm manufacturers under federal law.
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