Perhaps you’ve seen local news stories in your area about so-called “Glock switches,” which are more accurately described as “autosears.” They are added to a Glock pistol and convert it to full-auto fire. I first wrote about the devices in the July 2019 Downrange column, saying, “Basically, it seems, the switches change the sear engagement inside the pistol by using an arm attached to the rear plate.” The devices are illegal to make, import, possess, or attach to a firearm or use without compliance with the 1934 National Firearms Act (NFA).
In March 2022, I took notice in Houston when a television reporter did a scare story about the devices. I thought it was odd that the local ABC affiliate would cover the topic, considering how inept almost all reporters are about firearms issues. I’ve shot some full-auto Glock pistols, and they are hard to handle. Also, the only groups who have the budgets necessary to practice with machine pistols are cartels and the government, so it was weird that this was even a story.
But, apparently, BATF helped out then-ABC-13 reporter Ted Oberg with the story so the agency could bash privately made firearms, printed firearms parts, and the switches. The hook for the story was a supposed tripling in local recovery of the switches. Which sounds like a lot, but the “tripled” quantity was from 15 in 2020 to 45 in 2021.
Why is this germane in 2025? Because Glock is being attacked again for criminal actions outside its control.
NSSF, the firearms industry’s trade association, has denounced a coordinated “lawfare” effort by Democratic state attorneys general to make frivolous legal claims against Glock. It has the whiff of BATF’s effort from 2022 to demonize the gun maker for criminal modification of its firearms.
In the latest round of Glock bashing, New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin, joined by Minnesota’s Attorney General Keith Ellison along with 13 other states and the District of Columbia, are coordinating and repeating unfounded claims against Glock, Inc., that the company’s guns are too easy to modify to full auto.
The colluding states ignore the fact that these autosear devices aren’t produced by Glock, Inc., or any other firearm manufacturer.
“This is clearly an abuse of the courts to circumvent the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF’s senior vice president and general counsel. “This is the very definition of ‘lawfare’ and should be rejected by the courts.”
Federal officials recently contacted Glock to discuss implementing new ways to modify Glock pistols to make it harder for Glock switches to be installed. This is wrong-headed and foolish.
It makes as much sense as contacting Ford to see how the auto company can prevent its F150 trucks from being used to murder people in New Orleans. — Todd Woodard
