Maryland and the city of Baltimore have filed a lawsuit against Glock, aiming to compel the firearm manufacturer to take measures preventing owners from converting its pistols into fully

automatic weapons. The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in Baltimore City Circuit Court, is the first legal challenge under Maryland’s Gun Industry Accountability Act, enacted last year.

State and city officials argue that Glock’s semiautomatic pistols can be easily modified with "auto sears" or "Glock switches," transforming them into automatic weapons capable of firing up to 1,200 rounds per minute. These conversion devices, which can cost as little as $20 when purchased from third parties or produced using 3D printers, have contributed to escalating gun violence, authorities claim.

Under federal law, most machine guns have been banned for public sale since 1934, when they were commonly linked to organized crime figures like Al Capone and Machine Gun Kelly.

Glock, a subsidiary of Austria-based Glock Ges.m.b.H., has not yet responded to the lawsuit. The company has previously argued, in a similar case filed by Chicago, that it is not responsible for third-party modifications and cited the 2005 federal law that shields gun manufacturers from liability.

Maryland's lawsuit follows similar legal actions by Minnesota, New Jersey, and Chicago, reflecting a broader effort by cities and states to hold gunmakers accountable for the misuse of their products.

Baltimore, with a population of approximately 565,000, has long struggled with one of the highest homicide rates among major U.S. cities. Although violent crime rates have declined recently, Mayor Brandon Scott emphasized that the rise in modified Glocks and untraceable "ghost guns" presents an ongoing threat to public safety.

Baltimore police reportedly recovered more than 65 modified Glock firearms in 2024, a significant increase from 35 in 2023. Officials also pointed to the presence of modified Glocks in popular culture, citing video games and the 2022 Billboard No. 1 song "Jimmy Cooks" by Drake featuring 21 Savage, which references a Glock with a switch.

Mayor Scott condemned Glock’s lack of action, stating that by failing to implement safeguards against illegal modifications, the company has prioritized profits over community safety. The lawsuit seeks to halt the sale of easily convertible Glock firearms in Maryland and demands financial restitution, among other remedies. Photo by Michael McConville, Wikimedia commons.