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The Seattle City Attorney’s Office has filed a lawsuit against Glock, arguing that the design of its handguns makes them especially vulnerable to illegal modifications known as “Glock Switches.”
City Attorney Ann Davison said the lawsuit, filed in King County Superior Court, seeks to have Glock handguns declared a “public nuisance” under Washington law.
The city wants Glock and firearms dealers to adopt measures to deter and prevent the conversion of semi-automatic pistols into fully automatic weapons.
The City’s Argument
According to Davison, Glock’s design makes it “very easy to, within minutes, very cheaply, change their semi-automatic weapon to a fully automatic weapon.”
Police report that in recent years, the use of Glock Switches has more than doubled the number of rounds fired in shootings across the city.
Davison maintains that Seattle has a duty to address the issue at the source, not just punish individuals who attach the illegal devices.
“We must go upstream to where these are designed and put into the market,” she said.
What Are Glock Switches?
Despite their name, Glock Switches are not produced or endorsed by Glock. They are illegal devices that can be purchased online or even made with 3D printers.
SEE ALSO: Chicago Sues Glock Over Switch Proliferation
Once installed, they allow a handgun to empty a magazine in seconds, turning routine shootings into mass-casualty events.
Critics Push Back
Gun rights advocates say the city is targeting the wrong party. William Kirk of Washington Gun Law told KOMO News the real problem is not Glock but criminals committing the illegal modifications.
SEE ALSO: NSSF Slams States’ ‘Lawfare’ Campaign Against GLOCK
“The problem is not the gun manufacturers, the problem is not the lawful responsible gun owners. The problem are the people who are committing the criminal acts,” Kirk said.
He also questioned Seattle’s broader approach to policing (“de-policing”), suggesting city policies may have contributed to rising violence more than firearm design.
What’s Next
The case could test whether a court is willing to hold gun makers legally responsible for the illegal use of aftermarket devices. Glock has not publicly commented on the lawsuit.
For now, the legal battle pits Seattle city leaders against one of the most recognizable handgun brands in the world—with the outcome potentially shaping how other cities address the spread of illegal conversion devices.
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is a seasoned outdoorsman, lifelong hunter, and the kind of guy who’d rather track whitetails than scroll social media. As an editor for GunsAmerica, he’s got a sharp eye for spotting both solid gear and bad gun laws. Whether he’s deep in the woods or deep in editorial deadlines, Larry brings a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to firearms, hunting, and the great American tradition of self-reliance. If there’s a hot debate on gun rights or the latest in hunting tech, you can bet Larry’s got an opinion—and it’s probably backed up with both facts and field experience.
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So the Seattle officials are trying to infringe on the citizen’s right to keep and bear arms? They are part of the criminal element if they do that.
They should learn that they need to punish the criminals not the citizens.
Once again, if they get this pushed through, they won’t quit until all semi-autos are either registered the same as full auto, then made completely illegal. We need to go on the offensive, strip the automatic weapons and sound supressor ban law from the books.
This case has recently made unconstitutional when the Supreme Court told Mexico that gun manufacturers are not responsible for the actions of a third party they have no control of.
On the Gen 5 they molded a block in the frame to “prevent” the use of a switch. The ONLY REASON that the older models are even made, is BECAUSE OF ROSTERS ! IF they were to incorporate a block into the older models,it would invalidate the roster approval, they would have to go through the whole process of getting the gun back on the roster for sale !
Glock should counter-sue for 100 times what the city is asking for. Then file suit against the ones that initiated the suit. It is time for gun manufacturers and gun owners to use the courts to correct the illegal actions of politicians.
Typical reaction for dems. They go after anything and everything but the problem. It’s interesting the vast majority of these LEGAL Glocks recovered with ILLEGAL ‘fun switches’ installed, were done by minorities living in the hood – in other words – democrats. Gang-bangers and hood-rats are NOT going to be voting conservative.
The only reason that the older model Glocks are still being made is because of THEIR stupid Rosters ! So, they are the root cause why they are still available , but want to complain that they are still available !
Good idea. I think I will suit Chrysler because my neighbor put a very loud muffler on his 8 cylinder hemi Dodge Charger.
maybe he thought silencers were illegal…..
Seattle should be held liable for filing a frivolous law suit. Why not file lawsuits against car manufacturers for building cars that kill people when people drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Why not arrest manufacturers of knives when they kill people. Objects are inanimate until a criminal utilizes the object for nefarious purposes.
or sue doctors/hospitals for doing abortions guess there are certain levels of death where some just ain’t as bad as others!
This is wild that the city thinks this is okay. I’d agree with William Kirk on that issue and to me it shows me that the city has no accountability in its own actions and responsibility to its citizens. The fact remains it’s still illegal to shoot people so why isn’t that the focus?
Yet Seattle PD issues Glock pistols and has since the 1990s…more performance art from liberals…
glock should sue the city for allowing their guns to be modified and misused! the city isn’t doing anything to stop it and i wonder if an antigun group is actually making and supplying the switches.
This is the same city where a city council woman opened a police precinct with her keys to let the protesters inside.
Where WTO protesters broke dozens of windows in another protest with no consequences.
Where if we remove parking people will take the bus to town. Wrong we stopped going to Downtown Seattle.
And some like my family moved out forever!
Seattle, King County and WA State have been under Democratic control for over 4 decades.
Over $2 Billion spent on homeless situation and it is still a mess. But a good local TV person traveled the world to find the answer and a 95% success rate to this challenge in Rhode Island. Very good YouTube Video of this about an hour long. Totally worth viewing.