When Glock announced a major redesign of most of its lineup and the retirement of older models last year, the assumption was that it was done in response to both legislation and litigation aimed at blocking the sale of some of the most popular handguns in the country. By getting rid of the cruciform trigger bar, installing an illegal switch that converts a semi-automatic pistol into a full-auto machine gun becomes more difficult, at least in theory.
The changes, though, haven’t stopped anti-gun politicians from continuing to target the gun maker. On Friday, Philadelphia became the latest city to initiate a lawsuit against Glock, and the first one to do so since the company announced its design changes.
Unlike litigation brought by cities like Chicago, Baltimore, and Seattle, though, Philly’s lawsuit doesn’t seek an outright ban on the sale of Glock handguns. Instead, it calls for a halt to what it claims are the company’s “unlawful, unfair, confusing, and deceptive marketing practices”, “requiring Glock to issue clear andc onspicuous warnings and disclaimers regarding the availability and lawful purchase restrictions on fully automatic Glock pistols and switches in all advertising and marketing within, or directed to, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, City of Philadelphia, and residents therein,” and compensatory damages for the actions of individuals who’ve criminally misused Glocks in the City of Brotherly Love.
As for the complaints themselves, Philadelphia has adopted a kitchen-sink strategy of blaming the company for as many things as possible, including airsoft Glocks, the use of Glocks in video games, and even “the trend of equipping Glock handguns with accessories and aftermarket parts.”
The lawsuit complains about “Gucci Glocks” pic.twitter.com/Q5QfD58UrX
— Firearms Policy Coalition (@gunpolicy) March 13, 2026
It’s bold of Philadelphia to assert that guns that are simple enough for non-gunsmiths to work on are somehow especially dangerous and in need of tighter regulations. And that’s hardly the only odd argument deployed in Philly’s complaint.
The lawsuit agains avoids claiming that Glock’s newer guns are easy to convert: pic.twitter.com/sYawTwin2a
— Firearms Policy Coalition (@gunpolicy) March 13, 2026
So, it’s a misrepresentation to call Glock handguns safe, even though the Philadelphia police has “reliably” used them for years?
One of the main assertions of the lawsuit is that Glock is intentionally encouraging the illegal conversion into full-auto firearms.
Their failure to publicly disavow switches—even after litigation was filed—paired with their marketing of automatic fire as fun, amounts to an implicit endorsement of Glock switches.
I think it goes without saying that companies aren’t generally in favor of criminal behavior being associated with their products. Do they really have to say so? Can you imagine a city suiing Kia or Hyundai because it didn’t speak out forcefully enough about people stealing their cars, while at the same time marketing their vehicles as fun to drive?
Yes, Glock has occasionally shown their full-auto Glock 18 in social media posts, and the company has suggested that they’re fun to shoot. So what? I’ve only shot full-auto on a few occasions, but you know what? It was a blast every single time. Philadelphia, though, claims that Glock “never explains to consumers that possession or use of a machine gun is unlawful for civilians.”
Well, that’s not their job, and technically only pre-86 machine guns are unlawful for civilian use.
But what would happen if someone becomes captivated by one of those posts and decides to get themselves a full-auto Glock? They’re going to talk to an FFL who will inform them that they can’t have one. Philadelphia argues that some of those folks are going to turn around purchase or make an illegal switch without realizing they’re illegal because Glock “never disclaims or warns against unlawfulmodification of its semiautomatic pistols with switches.”
The city obviously has a vested interest in portraying the average gun owner as someone with the intelligence of a turnip, but this is just ridiculous. You can’t buy a switch at a gun shop. You can’t buy a Glock 18 at a gun shop. If you ask why the clerk will be happy to explain that’s its because its the against the law for the average citizen to possess a post-86 machine gun. But we’re supposed to believe that there are scores of people in Philadelphia who either order a switch on the black market or make one themselves not knowing that what they’re doing is illegal?
C’mon, now. That’s just a (Ben Franklin) bridge too far.
The city has given Glock a lengthy list of complaints to respond to, which I’m sure makes their attorneys very happy. What they haven’t provided though, is any proof that Glock is aiding and abetting the criminal misuse of their products for fun and profit. If there is any justice to be found here, this lawsuit will quickly be voided by the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas. Given the home court advantage that Philadelphia is seeking, however, I don’t know if that option is even remotely realistic.
Editor’s Note: The radical left will stop at nothing to enact their radical gun control agenda and strip us of our Second Amendment rights.
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