Seattle’s City Attorney Ann Davison (R) has launched a lawsuit against GLOCK, Inc., its Austrian parent company, and three local gun shops, accusing them of creating a “public nuisance” by producing and selling pistols that can be illegally converted into fully automatic weapons with a small aftermarket part known as a “Glock switch.”

The lawsuit, filed in King County Superior Court, names Pantel Tactical, Bull’s Eye Indoor Range, and Rainier Arms as co-defendants. The city claims police traced illegally modified Glock pistols back to these retailers.

The City’s Claims

According to the complaint, GLOCK pistols are “uniquely susceptible” to modification. The city argues that the company has known for decades that its design can be altered with the addition of a dime-sized piece of metal or plastic.

“The Glock switch puts the public at risk, it puts children and families at risk, and it puts our law enforcement personnel and first responders at risk,” Davison said in a press conference.

She contends that while other gun makers use designs that make conversion more difficult, GLOCK has “prioritized profits over public safety” and should be forced to redesign its firearms.

Retailers and Social Media

The lawsuit also claims GLOCK and the retailers ‘glorified’ automatic fire online, sharing videos and comments about converted pistols without warning consumers that such weapons are ‘illegal’ in the U.S.—though in reality, automatic firearms are NOT illegal at all, they’re just heavily regulated, a nuance the city conveniently ignores.

Seattle police report that casings recovered from crime scenes doubled from 2,514 in 2020 to 5,746 in 2023, which Davison speculates reflects the rising use of illegal conversion devices.

Pushback From Gun Rights Advocates

Gun rights voices see the lawsuit as a political stunt, not a public safety solution. Dave Workman, writer for AmmoLand News and editor at TheGunMag.com, said: “They want to hold GLOCK responsible for manufacturing a perfectly legal product that has been illegally modified by a third party over which they have no control”.

Critics also point out that the devices in question are already illegal under federal law. Jason Rantz, a Seattle talk radio host, argued the city should focus on the real issue: criminals who buy black-market parts or 3D-print their own. “The notion that GLOCK should be held responsible for criminals breaking the law is absurd,” Rantz wrote.

National Context

Seattle is not alone. Chicago, Baltimore, Minnesota, and New Jersey have all filed coordinated lawsuits against GLOCK Inc. These cases are part of a broader trend of anti-gun politicians using “public nuisance” laws to go after manufacturers instead of criminals.

But federal law stands in the way. The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) shields firearm companies from being sued when their products are misused by third parties. Historically, most lawsuits like this one have failed in court.

What’s at Stake

For pro-gun Americans, the Seattle lawsuit is less about public safety and more about setting a dangerous precedent. If gun makers can be held liable for illegal modifications, then any manufacturer—from Ford to Milwaukee Tool—could be blamed for criminal misuse or modification of their products.

As Workman put it, the lawsuit is essentially punishing a company for “manufacturing a perfectly legal product.” Whether the courts agree or not, the case shows once again how politicians are using the legal system as a weapon against the firearms industry—while the real criminals walk free.

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