Seattle is taking a bold step to address escalating gun violence by filing a lawsuit against Glock, the leading U.S. pistol manufacturer, and three local gun dealers. The city claims that Glock’s semi-automatic pistols, which can be easily converted into fully automatic machine guns using inexpensive “Glock switches,” are endangering public safety and straining community resources. This lawsuit, filed in 2025, marks the fifth legal action against Glock nationwide, following similar suits in Chicago, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Baltimore. With violent crime on the rise, Seattle’s case highlights a critical issue: the accessibility of devices that transform legal firearms into illegal, high-capacity weapons.
What Are Glock Switches and Why Are They a Problem?
Glock switches are small, quarter-sized devices that can be attached to the back of a Glock pistol, converting it from semi-automatic to fully automatic. This modification allows the weapon to fire up to 30 rounds in just two seconds—matching or exceeding the firepower of military-grade machine guns. These switches are inexpensive, widely available online, or can even be 3D-printed, despite being illegal for civilian use under federal law since 1986.
The proliferation of Glock switches has alarmed law enforcement. According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), over 31,000 machine gun conversion devices were recovered by police between 2019 and 2024. In Seattle alone, police reported 38 incidents involving these devices in 2024, linked to crimes like armed robberies and shootings. The ease of converting Glock pistols into machine guns poses significant risks to public safety, law enforcement, and first responders.
Seattle’s Case Against Glock: Key Allegations
Seattle’s lawsuit accuses Glock of knowingly producing pistols that can be easily modified into illegal machine guns, contributing to a surge in violent crime. The complaint highlights several critical points:
- Rising Crime Statistics: In 2020, Seattle police collected 2,514 spent casings from shooting scenes, a number that skyrocketed to 5,746 by 2023, reflecting a sharp increase in gun-related incidents.
- Longstanding Knowledge: The city alleges Glock has been aware of the conversion issue since 1988, when founder Gaston Glock saw a prototype switch but dismissed it as a “curiosity” rather than addressing the design flaw.
- Failure to Act: Unlike other firearm manufacturers that have adopted safer designs, Glock has made no significant changes to prevent conversions, prioritizing profits over public safety, according to the lawsuit.
- Marketing Concerns: Seattle argues that Glock’s advertising glorifies fully automatic weapons, indirectly encouraging their illegal modification by failing to disclose their illegality for civilians.
The lawsuit also targets three local gun dealers—Pantel Tactical, Bull’s Eye Indoor Range, and Rainier Arms—for selling Glock pistols later recovered in criminal investigations. By marketing and distributing firearms prone to conversion, these retailers are accused of contributing to a public nuisance.
The Broader Context: Glock Lawsuits Nationwide
Seattle’s lawsuit is part of a growing wave of legal actions against Glock. Chicago initiated the first suit in March 2024, followed by Minnesota, New Jersey, Baltimore, and Maryland. These cases share a common thread: allegations that Glock’s pistol design facilitates illegal conversions, exacerbating gun violence in urban areas. The increasing number of lawsuits signals a broader push to hold firearm manufacturers accountable for the societal impact of their products.
Seattle is seeking a court order to declare Glock’s practices a public nuisance, mandate a redesign of its pistols to prevent conversions, and impose damages. Additionally, the city wants an injunction to stop Glock and local dealers from continuing practices that fuel the problem.