City of Philadelphia and District Attorney Larry Krasner File Lawsuit Against GLOCK, Inc., For the Company’s Role in Gun Violence Crisis

The lawsuit alleges GLOCK, Inc. has promoted the use of illegal switch devices and targeted youth consumers through deceptive marketing

PHILADELPHIA - Today, the City of Philadelphia and District Attorney Larry Krasner, jointly represented by GIFFORDS Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence and the Hausfeld Law Firm, filed a lawsuit against GLOCK, Inc. The lawsuit alleges that the company has engaged in deceptive marketing practices and substantially contributed to the gun violence epidemic in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania by promoting the use of switches (also known as "auto sears") to convert GLOCK semi-automatic handguns into fully automatic machine guns. The City of Philadelphia Law Department filed the lawsuit on behalf of the City,and the District Attorney filed suit in the name of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  

The City of Philadelphia is seeking civil penalties and a court order to prevent GLOCK, Inc. from continuing its predatory and misleading marketing practices. Additionally, the City is seeking compensatory relief for the creation of an abatement fund to address the harms caused gun violence in Philadelphia communities by the proliferation of illegal, fully automatic handguns, promoted by GLOCK's marketing practices. 

GLOCK, one of the largest distributors of semi-automatic firearms in the country, advertises its firearms as being "safe." It also advertises its firearms as being easy to modify, and compatible with switches - cheap, easy-to-install devices that can convert GLOCK products into machine guns, capable of firing 1,200 rounds per minute. These devices are so commonly used to convert GLOCK handguns that they are typically referred to as "GLOCK switches," and many unauthorized retailers use the GLOCK logo on the product.  

According to the lawsuit, GLOCK uses deceptive marketing practices to misrepresent machine guns as being legitimate for recreational use and deceives consumers into believing that untrained civilians may legally possess fully automatic handguns. Despite the company's knowledge that machine guns are dangerous and illegal, and that switches are frequently used and associated with its products, GLOCK has neglected to take action to warn consumers that using switches is against the law and can have deadly consequences. Rather, the company intentionally promotes the use of switches for a fully automated GLOCK through advertising, often targeting youthwith demonstration videos and promotions on prominent social media channels. Through these marketing practices, the City alleges that GLOCK endangers the health and safety of Philadelphia residents.

"GLOCK's marketing practices cause consumer confusion and promote the conversion of legal, semi-automatic GLOCK handguns to illegal, fully automatic machine guns capable of firing 1,200 rounds per minute," said Renee Garcia, City Solicitor. "Rather than alerting consumers to the danger and illegality of switches, GLOCK has capitalized on their popularity by intentionally advertising the use of modified, fully automatic GLOCK handguns. The increased use of these devices, in part caused by GLOCK's targeted advertising, has had devastating consequences in our communities, and we are looking to hold GLOCK accountable for these unlawful practices through this lawsuit."

"Every single day, Philadelphians are killed and maimed by gun violence. My administration is committed to taking action to tackle this ongoing crisis, and I'm proud of this lawsuit which aims to stop machine guns from being advertised and brought into our communities where they are used to cause mass destruction," said Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. "GLOCK has prioritized profit over the safety of its users and the general public, and it's time for them to be held accountable under the law for the damage the products they advertise do to human lives."  

"The Office of Public Safety, together with the Philadelphia Police Department and our community partners, is at the forefront of the City's prevention, intervention and enforcement strategy to reduce violence - and our efforts are yielding results because we are not afraid to utilize every tool in the toolbox for maximum effect. This lawsuit is another such tool to limit the devastation caused by illegal switches," said Chief Public Safety Director, Adam Geer. "OPS will continue to work with our colleagues on policies that support the work done by our Rapid Response teams when mass shooting incidents occur, which the proliferation of these devices have made easier to perpetuate, to ensure we are tackling this issue from every angle."

"Gun violence has caused tremendous harm to the citizens of Philadelphia. On a daily basis, my office prosecutes criminal cases against dangerous individuals who violate our law by illegally possessing and using firearms manufactured by GLOCK," said Larry Krasner,District Attorney of Philadelphia. "GLOCK firearms have become even more dangerous in recent years, with the increased availability of illegal 'switches' that convert semiautomatic GLOCKs into fully-automatic machine guns. Outrageously, GLOCK has encouraged these modifications by portraying them as a somehow 'fun' and exciting use of their product, rather than as an illegal and dangerous practice. GLOCK's advertisements are not only irresponsible, they also violate Pennsylvania consumer protection law." 

"GLOCK's misleading and confusing advertising regarding GLOCK switches is dangerous. There is a reason machine guns are illegal for civilians to own. Rather than educating consumers and disclaiming switches, GLOCK has chosen to capitalize on the ease of illegal conversation of its semi-automatic handguns into deadly, fully automatic weapons," said Katie R. Beran, Partner at Hausfeld."We are honored to be working with the City, the District Attorney's office, and GIFFORDS Law Center to hold GLOCK accountable for these harmful and unlawful practices." 

"GLOCK has known for years that its handguns are easily converted to illegal machine guns using simple, cheap, and easy to obtain devices called GLOCK Switches," said GIFFORDS Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence Chief Counsel, Adam Skaggs. "A responsible company would have condemned the switches as illegal and deadly, but GLOCK has instead engaged in an extended campaign to market machine guns to the public, telling young people and other consumers that machine guns are fun, cool, and something they should have for themselves. The cynical pursuit of profit at the expense of community safety is not just reckless-it's unethical and illegal under Pennsylvania and Philadelphia law."

About Switches

Switches or auto sears are small, illegal machine gun conversion devices that can be made out of plastic or metal. After a simple installation, a switch allows a firearm to fire continually with a single pull of the trigger. Auto sears function by preventing a firearm's trigger bar-the part of the gun that prevents the firing pin from moving forward and which lowers when the trigger is pulled-from re-engaging after a single shot. As a result, a firearm with a switch installed operates as a machine gun, allowing an otherwise semiautomatic weapon to fire one to two dozen rounds per second, making them particularly deadly, especially when coupled with features like large capacity magazines. In addition to being a problem in the City of Philadelphia, GLOCK switches are an increasingly growing problem throughout all of Pennsylvania. 

Click here to read the full complaint.