New Legislation in New York Takes Aim at Glock Pistols

New York lawmakers have introduced legislation targeting handguns—particularly Glocks—that can allegedly be converted to automatic fire with relative ease. This marks another chapter in the ongoing debate between gun manufacturers and those seeking stricter firearm regulations.

Background on Gun Manufacturer Protections

In 2005, Congress passed the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), which President George W. Bush signed into law. This legislation was designed to shield firearm manufacturers from liability when their legally produced products are used in criminal activities.

The Current Controversy

Democratic State Senator Zellnor Myrie and Democratic State Representative Michaelle Solages are sponsoring a bill that would prohibit the future sale or manufacture of handguns they claim are "especially" susceptible to conversion into automatic weapons.

The legislation specifically addresses the issue of "Glock switches" or "Glock auto-sears"—aftermarket devices that can modify Glock pistols to fire automatically rather than semi-automatically (one round per trigger pull). These devices work by applying pressure to the trigger bar, circumventing the mechanism that limits firing to a single round per trigger pull.

Important Clarifications

It's worth noting that:

• Glock does not manufacture these conversion devices
• The company doesn't sell these "switches"
• Glock does not endorse their use

Existing Federal Regulations

Auto-sears are already prohibited under federal law. Converting any firearm to fully automatic operation is a federal felony, with possession of a "Glock switch" alone potentially resulting in up to 10 years of federal imprisonment.

The Lawmakers' Position

"Last year, the law was amended to require that firearm manufacturers take steps to ensure their handguns cannot be easily turned into machine guns with Glock switches," Sen. Myrie and Rep. Solages stated in announcing their legislation. "The law makes clear that if they don't take such steps, the manufacturers can be held accountable in court by those affected by modified weapons. Despite this, Glock has failed to address the lethality of the design of its handguns. In the face of the company's continued inaction, it's time to end the sale of these DIY machine guns in New York."

Recent Legal Developments

This legislative push comes during a time of evolving legal interpretations regarding automatic weapons. In August 2024, a federal judge in Wichita, Kansas ruled that federal regulations tightly controlling the ownership and transfer of fully automatic firearms violate the Second Amendment under the 2022 Bruen decision. Earlier, in January 2024, a U.S. district judge in Mississippi similarly found that federal laws effectively banning the sale and possession of newly produced or unregistered machine guns were unconstitutional.