In the heart of the Windy City, a legal storm brews as Chicago takes on firearm giant Glock, alleging the ease with which their pistols can be transformed into illegal machine guns. Filed in the Cook County circuit court, the lawsuit accuses Glock of knowingly allowing their popular pistols to be modified with a simple and inexpensive attachment, turning them into fully automatic weapons.
According to the city’s claims, Glock has long been aware that a minor addition called an auto sear can transform their pistols from semi-automatic to fully automatic mode, a modification that’s been found in over 1,100 pistols recovered by Chicago police between 2021 and 2023. With a price tag as low as $20, this attachment allegedly turns Glock pistols, the most prevalent firearms in Chicago crimes, into formidable automatic weapons.
In a city already grappling with rampant gun violence, Chicago points its legal finger squarely at Glock, blaming the proliferation of modified pistols for exacerbating the crisis. Seeking justice, the lawsuit demands action, including a court order to halt the sale of easily convertible pistols to the public and measures to prevent their illegal modification. Additionally, Chicago seeks damages and insists on Glock forfeiting profits earned from the sale of these pistols.
The crux of the issue lies in the alleged simplicity of the modification process. Chicago asserts that adding an auto sear to a Glock pistol is as effortless as wielding a screwdriver, transforming the weapon’s firing rate to a staggering 1,200 rounds per minute. The city contends that a minor tweak to Glock’s design could prevent such modifications, thereby curbing the illicit transformation of their firearms.
This legal skirmish unfolds against the backdrop of a recent Illinois law, empowering lawsuits against firearm manufacturers for unsafe marketing practices, a rare challenge to the heavily protected gun industry. Spearheaded by the city’s law department, in conjunction with gun reform group Everytown Law and legal heavyweights from Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, the lawsuit signifies a bold step in Chicago’s battle against gun violence.
As the legal showdown looms, the outcome of the City of Chicago v. Glock lawsuit remains uncertain, with both sides poised for a protracted legal duel. Yet, amidst the legal intricacies, one thing is clear: Chicago stands firm in its quest for accountability and safety in the face of an escalating crisis.
