City Attorney Files Lawsuit Against Glock, Citing Public Safety Risks

Seattle City Attorney Ann Davison filed a civil lawsuit Monday in King County Superior Court against firearm manufacturer Glock, Inc., its Austrian parent company Glock GES.m.b.H., and three Glock-authorized gun retailers in the Seattle area.

The complaint alleges that Glock knowingly manufactures, markets, and distributes semi-automatic handguns that can be easily converted into illegal machine guns using a device known as a “Glock switch.”

Also named in the suit are Pantel Tactical, Bull’s Eye Indoor Range, LLC, and Rainier Arms, LLC.

Davison said the devices, which are illegal under state and federal law, transform Glock handguns into automatic weapons capable of firing hundreds of rounds per minute.

“The Glock switch puts the public at risk, it puts children and families at risk, and it puts our law enforcement personnel and first responders at risk,” said Davison. “Glock knowingly manufactures a gun that can be converted into an automatic weapon. I will hold corporations putting public safety at risk as accountable as the criminals who violate our state and city laws.”

The lawsuit claims that Glock’s design and manufacturing process allow users to bypass standard safety mechanisms with the application of the switch, effectively turning the firearm into a machine gun. Most handguns include a built-in metal piece called a “sear,” which prevents multiple rounds from firing with one trigger pull. According to the city, Glock’s design allows that sear to be easily manipulated.

In the suit, Davison is asking the court to require Glock to modify its manufacturing standards to prevent easy conversion of its handguns into automatic weapons.

“Unlike its competitors, who choose to use different, safer standards, Glock chooses to prioritize profits over public safety,” said Davison. “I’m bringing this litigation because of the massive increase in gun violence caused by converted Glocks. By using this civil remedy – and continuing to use criminal prosecution community-wide – we will fight gun violence both upstream and downstream.”

Seattle Police Department data shows a sharp rise in gun-related crime and use of converted firearms. In 2020, officers collected 2,514 shell casings at crime scenes. By 2023, that number had more than doubled to 5,746.

SPD also began tracking the recovery of Glock switches in 2023. Officers found the devices in at least 20 incidents that year. In 2024, that number has already climbed to 38 incidents.

Davison’s office is pursuing the case under state civil liability statutes, citing the ongoing public safety threat posed by converted handguns.

If successful, the lawsuit could require Glock to implement design changes that would make the firearms harder to convert and potentially influence industry-wide safety standards.