The Glock pistol is one of the most popular firearms in the country since it was introduced in the 1980s, but that has not stopped multiple states from trying to prohibit future sales of the handgun.
To date, four states have banned the ubiquitous handgun, claiming that it is too easy to convert it into a fully-automatic firearm. One state, Illinois, is considering a ban, with the bill passing a committee vote on May 20, but it has not been acted upon by the full state House of Representatives.
California was the first state to enact a ban when Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB1127 into law on October 2025. In May, though, the pace accelerated, as Democratic Maryland Gov. Wes Moore signed legislation Tuesday that could ban the sale of Glock pistols, with Democratic Govs. Ned Lamont of Connecticut and Kathy Hochul of New York following suit within days.
Three states and several cities have taken a different approach, electing to sue the manufacturer. Minnesota and New Jersey filed their suits in December 2024.
“I am suing Glock for knowingly manufacturing and selling handguns that can easily be converted into machine guns,” Democratic Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said. “Glock’s actions, and their inaction, violate Minnesota law, and put kids, communities and law enforcement in danger. This has to stop. Today’s lawsuit against Glock is about protecting our kids and protecting the guardians who look out for us.”
Research by the Crime Prevention Research Center (CPRC) showed that murders with illegally-modified Glocks are rarer than fatal lightning strikes, with only 40 people dying in attacks using the handguns since the start of 2021, while the National Weather Service confirmed 81 deaths from the meteorological event in the same timeframe.
“Glock’s ownership sits in Austria lining their pockets with profits paid for by American bloodshed fueled by their products — and we are sick of it. Our message today to Glock is clear: the days of putting greed ahead of the safety of our residents and law enforcement officers are over,” then-Democratic New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin claimed when he filed New Jersey’s suit in December 2024.
Maryland, whose governor signed a legislative ban on Glocks Wednesday, filed its suit in conjunction with the city of Baltimore in February.
“Glock could have designed its pistols to prevent auto sears from working — they chose not to. That choice costs lives,” Democratic Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown told Maryland Matters, adding that he was seeking court orders to force Glock to stop selling and making the pistols in question and to “implement reasonable safety measures.”
Chicago, Philadelphia and Seattle have also filed lawsuits targeting Glock, each seeking injunctive relief and “restitution” for alleged harms caused by the devices, thetrace.org, a media outlet that has Everytown President John Feinblatt on its board of directors, reported.
Glock pistols are extremely popular among civilians and law enforcement agencies in the United States and are listed as one of top-selling firearms by publications such as Guns and Guns and Ammo magazine. The Glock 19X model achieved sales of over 100,000 units within the first six months following its launch, according to a 2018 press release issued by the manufacturer.
According to current federal law, the possession or manufacture of fully-automatic firearms is prohibited unless the firearm is registered or approved by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) pursuant to the provisions of the National Firearms Act of 1934.
NSSF’s RightSideofLegal.org website notes that having a machine-gun conversion device can lead to ten years in federal prison and up to a $250,000 in fines.
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