Chicago officials have filed a lawsuit against Glock Inc., alleging that the company's handguns are being modified with a relatively cheap mechanism known as the "Glock switch" to convert them into illegal machine guns capable of firing up to 1,200 rounds per minute. The lawsuit claims that over 1,100 Glocks have been recovered by Chicago police in the last two years alone, converted into illegal machine guns. The "Glock switch" can be purchased for as little as $20 and easily affixed to the pistol with common household tools.
Despite knowing about the problem for years, Glock has allegedly refused to modify its guns to prevent such easy conversions. Chicago officials accuse Glock of prioritizing profits over public safety and seek monetary damages along with a court order to stop the sales of Glock handguns to Illinois residents. This lawsuit is the first to utilize the state's 2023 Firearms Industry Responsibility Act, which holds gun companies responsible for contributing to conditions that endanger public safety.
