City of Seattle suing Glock over ‘switch’ conversions
Sep 2, 2025, 2:45 PM
A semi-automatic pistol with a conversion device installed making it fully automatic is fired as four empty shell casings fly out of the weapon. (File photo: Alex Brandon, AP)
(File photo: Alex Brandon, AP)
The City of Seattle is suing gunmaker Glock.
Seattle City Attorney Ann Davison accused Glock of making handguns that can be easily converted into illegal machine guns using a device called a “Glock switch.”
“Glock knowingly manufactures a gun that can be converted into an automatic weapon. I will hold corporations putting public safety at risk as accountable as the criminals who violate our state and city laws,” she stated.
Seattle City Attorney calls out Glock
Davison said the modified guns can fire 30 rounds in two seconds—and are showing up more often at crime scenes.
“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 stated.
She wants Glock to redesign its weapons to prevent the conversions.
“Unlike its competitors, who choose to use different, safer standards, Glock chooses to prioritize profits over public safety,” she said. “I’m bringing this litigation because of the massive increase in gun violence caused by converted Glocks. By using this civil remedy—and continuing to use criminal prosecution community-wide—we will fight gun violence both upstream and downstream.”
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Number of shell casings recovered jumps from 2020 to 2023
According to Davison’s office, the number of shell casings retrieved at crime scenes by the Seattle Police Department jumped from 2,514 in 2020 to 5,746 in 2023.
“SPD has also started tracking the recovery of Glock switches, which went from one or more in 20 separate 2023 incidents to 38 incidents in 2024,” according to a release from Davison’s office Tuesday. “Last May, three people murdered in Pioneer Square died from shots likely fired from converted Glock firearms.”
We have reached out to Glock for comment.
Three Seattle-area Glock-authorized gun retailers—Pantel Tactical, Bull’s Eye Indoor Range, LLC, and Rainier Arms, LLC—are also named in the suit, according to the news release.
Bull’s Eye Indoor Range, LLC declined to comment.
We have reached out to the other two retailers.
Frank Lenzi is the News Director for KIRO Newsradio. Read more of his stories here.
