The civil lawsuit demands the company change its popular handgun design to make it less susceptible to illegal modification.
SEATTLE — Seattle is taking legal aim at one of the most recognizable names in firearms: Glock.
City Attorney Ann Davison has filed a civil lawsuit against the gun manufacturer, accusing it of knowingly producing handguns that can be easily and illegally modified into machine guns. The lawsuit centers on the use of a device known as a “Glock switch,” which converts a semi-automatic pistol into a fully automatic weapon. According to the city, a converted Glock can fire 30 rounds in just two seconds.
The lawsuit demands that Glock redesign its popular handgun to make it more resistant to modification, arguing that the current design violates Washington’s public nuisance laws. Davison said the legal action was prompted by a request from Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes shortly after he assumed his role.
“Glock chooses to leave its handguns in this uniquely susceptible design, where they can be easily converted,” Davison said. “They’re choosing profits over public safety. It’s important to hold corporations accountable when they put the public at risk—just like we hold criminals accountable when they violate city and state laws.”
The lawsuit also names three Glock-authorized retailers in the Seattle area: Pantel Tactical, Bulls Eye Indoor Range LLC, and Rainier Arms LLC.
“Police have traced guns recovered at crime scenes, converted with switches, back to those retailers,” Davison said.
Joshua Pantel, owner of Pantel Tactical, dismissed the lawsuit as “virtue signaling” and a “waste of time.” Bulls Eye Indoor Range and Rainier Arms declined to comment.
Lawsuits against gun manufacturers are rarely successful due to federal protections under the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, passed in 2005. The law generally shields gun makers from liability when their products are used in crimes. However, Davison argues that this case is different.
“That’s a traditional defense,” she said. “I’m not suing any other gun manufacturers. This is specific to Glock’s design, which makes it uniquely susceptible to being converted within minutes from a semi-automatic to a fully automatic weapon.”
Modified handguns are becoming a growing concern nationwide. In Seattle, police reported 38 incidents involving Glock switches in 2024—nearly double the number from the previous year.
Seattle’s lawsuit joins a wave of similar legal actions across the country. Minnesota and New Jersey have also filed lawsuits against Glock, alleging the company’s design facilitates illegal modifications and contributes to rising gun violence. Both states argue that Glock should be held accountable for failing to adopt safer manufacturing standards used by competitors.
These cases are testing the limits of the federal liability shield and could set new legal precedents for how gun manufacturers are held responsible for public safety risks.
