By Jonathan Stempel
(Reuters) – Maryland and the city of Baltimore initiated legal action against Glock on Wednesday, aiming to compel one of the nation’s leading gun retailers to implement measures preventing the customization of its firearms into automatic weapons resembling machine guns. The lawsuit, brought before the Baltimore City Circuit Court, serves the purpose of curbing gun violence in the urban setting and represents the initial examination of Maryland’s Gun Industry Accountability Act, which was put into effect last year.
Authorities have expressed concern over the ease with which owners of Glock semiautomatic pistols can equip “auto sears”—commonly referred to as Glock switches—onto their firearms, thereby enhancing the lethality of the weapons and enabling them to discharge up to 1,200 rounds per minute. According to the complaint, these sears can be acquired for as little as $20 from third-party sellers and can even be produced using 3D printers.
As far back as 1934, federal regulations heavily restricted the sale of machine guns to the general public, a measure prompted by the association of such weapons with notorious figures like Al Capone and Machine Gun Kelly. Glock, a subsidiary of Austria-based Glock Ges.m.b.H., has yet to provide a response to requests for comment on the matter.
Similar legal actions were instigated against Glock last year by Minnesota, New Jersey, and the city of Chicago. In the Chicago case, Glock contended that it could not be held liable for the actions of third parties and invoked a 2005 federal statute that shields firearms manufacturers from liability.
Baltimore, Maryland’s most populous city with approximately 565,000 inhabitants, has long grappled with one of the highest homicide rates among major American urban centers. Mayor Brandon Scott, in a press conference announcing the lawsuit, pointed out that while the rates of homicides and non-fatal shootings are on the decline in Baltimore, the proliferation of sears in Glocks and so-called “ghost guns” poses an escalating threat to public safety. Ghost guns, largely untraceable firearms crafted privately, are of particular concern.
Scott revealed that Baltimore law enforcement had seized over 65 modified Glocks in 2024, an increase from the 35 confiscated in 2023. The lawsuit underscored the presence of customized Glocks in pop culture, including references in video games and the 2022 chart-topping song “Jimmy Cooks” by Drake featuring 21 Savage, which mentions, “This Glock .45 came with a switch.”
Scott accused Glock of contributing to the growing issue and endangering the safety of neighborhoods, residents, and law enforcement officers by neglecting to institute appropriate controls to prevent illicit modifications while prioritizing profits over safety. The legal action seeks to halt the sale of easily convertible Glocks in Maryland and pursue compensation for profits and restitution, among other forms of relief.
(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Leslie
