Seattle sues Glock over illegal 'switch' devices

SEATTLE - Seattle City Attorney Ann Davison is suing gun manufacturer Glock over "switches," illegal modification devices that can turn handguns into machine guns.

What they're saying:

The civil lawsuit accuses Glock of knowingly making, marketing and selling handguns that can be converted to fire automatically, arguing "switches" not only pose a public safety risk, but also puts first responders and law enforcement in danger.

Handguns contain a small metal piece called a "sear," which typically prevents a handgun from immediately firing multiple rounds with a single trigger pull. Davison says a converted Glock can fire 30 rounds in two seconds, or hundreds of rounds per minute.

"The Glock switch puts the public at risk, it puts children and families at risk, and it puts our law enforcement personnel and first responders at risk," said City Attorney Davison. "Glock knowingly manufactures a gun that can be converted into an automatic weapon. I will hold corporations putting public safety at risk as accountable as the criminals who violate our state and city laws."

In the lawsuit, Davison asks the court to require Glock to change its handguns so they cannot be modified to fire automatically with the easy application of a switch.  An example of a switch, shown in court documents, is pictured below. 

"Unlike its competitors, who choose to use different, safer standards, Glock chooses to prioritize profits over public safety," said City Attorney Davison. "I’m bringing this litigation because of the massive increase in gun violence caused by converted Glocks. By using this civil remedy – and continuing to use criminal prosecution community-wide – we will fight gun violence both upstream and downstream."

Three local retailers, including Bull’s Eye Indoor Range, LLC, Pantel Tactical, and Rainier Arms, LLC are also named in the lawsuit.

"They are contributing to the public nuisance under a state statute that was enacted in 2023 where it creates a public nuisance," said Ann Davison, Seattle City Attorney. "Sadly, the switches are very prevalent, many can be produced with just a 3D printer." 

The lawsuit states, "Glock switches are made from metal or plastic and are roughly the size of a dime."

Davison says that modified Glocks have been used in dozens of crimes in the Seattle area.

The lawsuit reads, "Before conversion, a Glock fires one bullet for each pull of the trigger. In contrast, the converted weapon fires at rates up to 1,200 rounds per minute."

"Other handgun makers do different designs in their firearms, and it’s very difficult and complicated to change the mechanics of it to insert this switch," said Davison. "It’s almost a status symbol to have a Glock and to have a switch in it because in about 2–3 seconds they can fire about 30 shots." 

Meantime, Dave, who writes for TheGunMag.com, says he’s looking over the lawsuit.

"They want to hold Glock responsible for manufacturing a perfectly legal product that has been illegally modified by a third party over which they have no control," said Dave Workman, editor-in-chief of TheGunMag.com, a publication owned by the Second Amendment Foundation.

He says similar lawsuits have previously been filed in other states and is unsure how it will play out in court. 

"I don’t see how Glock could be held responsible for that," said Workman.

By the numbers:

Data from Seattle police states Glock switches were recovered in 58 incidents in the past two years, and the number of shell casings recovered at crime scenes climbed from 2,514 in 2020 to 5,746 in 2023.

Davison names three retail gun stores in the lawsuit, which have not yet responded to FOX 13's request for comment.

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