Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
This week, the City of Chicago has filed a lawsuit against firearm manufacturer Glock.
The reason? Gangsters are illegally modifying the company’s polymer pistols with “switches” (prohibited auto sears) to create unlicensed machine guns.
This lawsuit, a first of its kind, uses Illinois’s deeply misguided Firearms Industry Responsibility Act to hold the gun manufacturer accountable for the actions of criminals.
That’s right. It’s no different than blaming the farmer for the depredations wrought by the wolves.
The complaint, filed in Cook County Circuit Court, notes the recovery of over 1,100 modified Glocks in Chicago over the past two years.
The city argues that Glock can fix the problem but refuses to do so. It wants the company to cease Glock sales to Chicagoans and to pony up for the alleged damages it’s caused.
Mayor Brandon Johnson, a member of the Bloomberg-funded Mayors Against Illegal Guns, expressed his concern in a press release obtained by GunsAmerica.
“Selling firearms that can so easily be converted into automatic weapons makes heinous acts even more deadly, so we are doing everything we can in collaboration with others committed to ending gun violence to hold Glock accountable for putting profits over public safety,” Johnson said.
Eric Tirschwell, executive director of Everytown Law, piled on.
“Right now, anyone in the United States with $20 and a screwdriver can convert their Glock pistol into an illegal machine gun in just a few minutes,” said Tirschwell.
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“We intend to hold Glock accountable for the unconscionable decision to continue selling its easily modified pistols even though it could fix the problem, knowing that by refusing to do so it is exacerbating gun violence in Chicago,” he added.
However, Mark Oliva, managing director of public affairs for the National Shooting Sports Foundation, strongly rebutted the allegations.
“This lawsuit is completely without merit,” Oliva asserted in an email to GunsAmerica. He referenced the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, emphasizing that Glock manufactures lawful, non-defective products.
“Mayor Brandon Johnson should re-examine his unwillingness to hold the criminals accountable for their crimes,” he added. “The residents of Chicago are suffering from his soft-on-crime policies.”
This lawsuit is “frivolous” said Oliva, “but we should expect no less from the same mayor who sued automakers because criminals stole their vehicles.“
Oliva wasn’t making that last part up. Mayor Johnson literally sued car makers last year for selling cars that were too easy to steal. It appears that in the Windy City everyone is responsible for the surge in crime — apart from the perpetrators themselves.
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If I put a Holley 4 bbl, an Iskenderien cam, and a MSD Super HEI ignition on my car, and get pulled over for doing 140 on the interstate, will the state sue Holley , Iskenderian, and MSD?
You read so many stories about criminals using any firearm, and being charged with using a firearm in a crime, or they were an ex-con and illegally owning a firearm. Then when they get to court, it seems the majority of those charges are dropped in order to get him or her to admit to something more serious, and get an extras 5 years taken off a 30 to life sentence.
The illegal Glock switches boost sales of Glocks both legal and straw purchases. Do people really think that the gun industries number are not boosted by “I bought it but don’t like it multiple times a year, supposed thefts and actual thefts.
I correct anyone when they speak as if machine guns are used in crimes. I explain that those being used in crimes are all illegal. Legal machine guns are actually on a registry and because there are about 260,000 that are legally owned. Then I tell them that even a little piece of metal to make a semi-auto AR fire automatically is going to cost are around $20,000+ to start. Then I take them to the RIA webpage and show them what machine guns are selling for at auction.
I pose the final question. Consider the effort and cost to the extra secure place to store it own a machine gun and the penalties for mistakes including fines and prison “Why would someone use a legal machine gun to commit a crime?”
Criminals use objects to convert or use converted formerly legal guns. Then I tell them about suppressors. It’s odd that the majority of people I tell about suppressors don.t understand why they are restricted if they don’t silence a fired shot.
I treat them with respect I don’t talk down to them and I always offer to take them to shoot. Sometimes they would go shooting even during the ammo crunch I would take someone and let shoot because moving the needle to at least ambivalent was worth the cost.
It wasn’t uncommon for people why the other gun people are a—–. And are the problem, is the a— gun freaks.
The ones who want a gun afterwards I’ll help them “The best gun in the world is the one you can effectively practice with whether a .22 or a 10mm.” I never treat them as if they are stupid because they are doing what ignorant people do. They learn unlike the a– 2A freaks who as they don’t consider how to persuade people to become pro 2A when they know they should, they are not as smart as they think they are.
My dad taught me that a smart man knows he has, is and will be stupid, a stupid man doesn’t.
No offense, but either you have a poor spell-checker or you are on Meth. That’s one long run-on sentence you just composed and how you express it doesn’t help the 2A cause.
Mostly, tell me why are Suppressors restricted? Hollywood, real-life use or archaic anti-poacher legislation?
This Glock Switch sounds like something we God-Fearing American Patriots really need for our Militias. If anyone knows where to find one, Please contact me at NotAGayFed.gov and I’ll get right back with you.
The left is fucking pathetic at this point. Chicago and most of it’s citizens are complete trash.
A. Did Glock make the part ? B , Did Glock Sell the part ? , if NO to these questions. Then our lawsuit is … misguided, or, as we say in Texas , BULLSHIT.
Converting Glocks into full-auto in a few minutes? I still cannot believe that people fully believe this nonsense. Performing these actions will automatically earn you a minimum 8 years in prison and a $250K fine – not including lawyers’ fees – if you’re lucky to find one who will take you on.
Only NON-law abiding people (read: criminals) will break this law.
I would sure like to know what the typical penalty was for a CRIMINAL illegally possessing a gun that had been altered to auto-fire. I mean…1100 cases of such, and no mention of what happens to the perps?
The failure of these libtard moron politicians to enforce the laws already passed fall squarely on their shoulders not a manufacturer. You lock the assholes up you solve the street crime problem. Most Federal crimes carry enhancement clauses for use of firearms so that is even better. Mayor Rudy Giuliani (SP?) cleaned New York in this manner. Chicago voters deserve what they have now for electing such imbeciles in the first place. No sympathy here.
Very informative
Why not fix the real problem? Close the revolving door justice system and enforce the gun laws that are already on the books. It’s a felony to install a ‘fun-switch’ on any gun without following the rules set forth by the fed. If one of these peanut-heads get catch with an illegal firearm they are released back out on the street with barely a slap on the wrist. Maybe try going after the Chinese company’s that are making these illegal ‘fun-switches’. Lay blame where it’s due.
Because actually fixing the issue takes hard work and that’s yucky. That’s their juvenile mindset.
I’m curious to know how many of those who possessed the 1,100 illegally modified Glock handguns were actually charged with federal charges of criminal possession of a machine gun?
And therein lies the problem.
quit phucking with glock! go after the “activists” (pc for terrorists) that are doing this! Maybe go after the company making and selling the switches with out doing nfa paperwork……..