TRENTON — On Thursday, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin of New Jersey announced a lawsuit against Glock, Inc. and Glock Ges.m.b.H., alleging that the firearms manufacturer allowed its semi-automatic pistols to be converted into illegal machine guns by means of cheap, readily available devices called Glock switches.
The case, which was filed in the Chancery Division of the New Jersey Superior Court, aims to stop Glock from selling these guns in the state and wants compensation for what officials said were the company’s risky and illegal business activities. Glock pistols can fire up to 1,200 rounds per minute with a single trigger pull thanks to these devices, which can be 3D manufactured or bought online for less than $20.
Significant criminal justice changes have been implemented in New Jersey in an effort to make the system more equitable and efficient. The state changed its cash bail system to a risk-based one in 2017, which enables judges to evaluate defendants’ risk levels instead of their financial resources. This modification sought to guarantee that high-risk prisoners might be held pending trial while preventing low-risk individuals from being jailed only for failing to pay bond.
The 2019 clean slate expungement law is one of the further amendments that allows people with specific convictions to have their records cleared after 10 years without committing any new crimes. More than 80,000 residents on probation or parole also received their voting rights back, enabling them to fully engage in the democratic process.
New Jersey passed legislation in 2020 to improve law enforcement accountability, expedite juvenile justice reforms, and provide reentry benefits for those who have served time in prison. The state’s commitment to comprehensive criminal justice reform is reflected in these initiatives, which seek to address systemic problems and encourage rehabilitation.
Attorney General Platkin used records from the 1980s to support his claim that Glock has long been aware of how easily its handguns may be transformed into handheld machine guns. According to Platkin, Glock has been selling weapons that anyone can turn into a military-grade machine gun in a matter of minutes with a screwdriver and a YouTube video for decades. We have a clear message for Glock today: the days of prioritizing money over the security of our citizens and law enforcement personnel are finished.
The complaint draws attention to the growing number of crimes in New Jersey involving Glock firearms. Glock handgun seizures linked to criminal activities have increased by 104% between 2020 and 2023, according to state data. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives reported a 570% rise in seizures between 2017 and 2021, indicating a nationwide surge in machine gun conversion parts.
The action by New Jersey is part of a multistate coalition’s concerted effort to hold gun makers responsible for gun violence. A similar complaint against Glock was also brought by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison on Thursday, who pointed to the company’s refusal to address the hazards associated with these changes.
According to Ravi Ramanathan, Director of New Jersey’s Statewide Affirmative Firearms Enforcement Office, Glock is aware that its firearms are frequently converted to machine guns and used to commit violent crimes, but it has taken no significant action to stop this.
The lawsuit demonstrates New Jersey’s dedication to upholding its strict gun control regulations, which include a 2022 law intended to make the weapons industry responsible for infractions pertaining to public safety.
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