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Chicago has expanded its lawsuit against Glock, aiming to hold the gun manufacturer, its parent company, and local gun dealers “accountable” for allegedly endangering the city by selling “easily modifiable” pistols.
The lawsuit, first filed in March, now includes Glock Ges.m.b.H, the Austrian entity, and two local dealers, Eagle Sports Range and Midwest Sporting Goods.
Allegations
The city alleges that Glock’s pistols can be easily converted into machine guns using a device known as a “Glock switch.”
Chicago law enforcement has found over 1,300 converted Glocks connected to various crimes from 2021 to May 2024, averaging one recovered every day.
The lawsuit also claims that Glock has deceptively marketed its pistols as safe, despite their potential for illegal modification.
Mayor Brandon Johnson stated, “The City of Chicago will do everything in its power to end gun violence and counter the increase of fully automatic Glocks on our streets.
“We are expanding this lawsuit to ensure that other irresponsible actors who have contributed to the proliferation of easily modified Glocks in our City are held accountable for their role in this deadly new frontier plaguing Chicago’s residents and communities,” he added.
The city claims that Glock’s pistols have significantly contributed to gun violence in Chicago.
Dealers’ Alleged Complicity
The lawsuit targets Midwest Sporting Goods and Eagle Sports Range, alleging they are aware of the pistols’ modification potential yet continue to market and sell them.
Midwest Sporting Goods is accused of misleading marketing, while Eagle Sports Range allegedly showcased a modified Glock on social media.
Parent Company’s Role
The lawsuit also names Glock Ges.m.b.H, alleging that founder Gaston Glock has known about the modification potential since the 1980s but continued profiting from it.
The Austrian company is said to collaborate closely with its U.S. subsidiary in the design, manufacture, and promotion of Glock pistols.
City’s Legal Team
Chicago seeks a court order to stop the sales and marketing of Glock pistols and penalties for the alleged actions.
The city’s legal team includes attorneys from the City of Chicago Department of Law, Everytown Law, and Motley Rice LLC.
The Truth
When the lawsuit was initially filed, we reached out to the NSSF for comment.
Mark Oliva, the organization’s managing director of public affairs, didn’t hold back in his response to the lawsuit.
He called it “completely without merit,” pointing to the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, which protects companies that make legal, non-defective products.
Oliva also slammed Mayor Brandon Johnson’s “soft-on-crime policies,” saying they’re the real issue behind Chicago’s problems.
He even called the lawsuit “frivolous,” noting that Johnson had sued car makers last year for making cars that were too easy to steal.
In Chicago, it appears, everyone seems to get blamed for crime—except the criminals themselves.
What this really is is nothing more than a money grab by Windy City politicians.
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