Chicago Drops Glock Lawsuit, Only to Expand It Further

Back in March, we reported that the City of Chicago was suing Glock over the infamous “Glock Switches.” Never mind that Glock doesn’t manufacture those devices, which are more correctly called “auto sears.” In case you don’t know, auto sears are parts that allow semi-automatic firearms to function as machine guns, firing multiple rounds with a single trigger press.

Chicago didn’t sue Glock for making auto sears. They sued because Glock manufactures guns for which criminals have devised an illegal alteration, namely the “Glock Switch.” Auto sears are regulated under the National Firearms Act as being necessary parts for machine guns, so they are indeed illegal. Correctly made auto sears can provide full-auto capability to just about any semi-auto firearm.

But Glock is the undisputed industry leader for semi-auto handguns. Glock’s ubiquity makes them the natural choice for cheap, illegal auto sears, usually made in China and exported to the United States. Glock’s simple, effective design also makes their products susceptible to criminal alteration.

A Strange Lawsuit

Glock is also among gun control advocates’ leading bogeymen. This prompted Chicago, supported by the equally ardent Everytown for Gun Safety, to sue Glock because the company refuses to change their design parameters. The suit even admits that Glock doesn’t manufacture, sell, or promote “Glock Switches.” But that won’t stop an outfit like Everytown. Everytown President John Feinblatt trumpeted his organization’s support on X:

You really can’t make this stuff up.

A few days later, thirteen Attorneys General, led by New Jersey’s Matthew Platkin, joined the suit. Platkin spoke for the other AGs, saying “The City of Chicago’s lawsuit claims that your choices constitute violations of multiple sections of the Municipal Code of Chicago, including through the unreasonable sale and marketing of firearms and unfair business practices; the creation of, maintenance of, and contribution to an ongoing public nuisance; and negligence. If the City’s factual allegations are true, your conduct may also involve violations of our States’ laws. We will not hesitate to enforce our laws when they are violated.”

But can you really sue a business because criminals illegally alter their products? It seemed we were about to find out. But then something happened. Chicago quietly dropped the lawsuit, asking for “voluntary dismissal of this case without prejudice.” That was it. No reason was given. Federal Judge Steven C. Seeger granted the dismissal, and that was it.

The Firearms Policy Coalition alleges that Chicago and Everytown feared adjudicating the suit in federal court, leading to the dismissal. That may well be true, given the recent court record of anti-gun laws and the losses incurred by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). The initial suit was filed in the Cook County, Illinois Circuit Court, but Glock had it moved to federal court.

What was Old is New Again

But Everytown told us they weren’t quitting. The group issued a press release the next day claiming that Chicago was expanding the suit, with no further explanation.

That press release was correct. Chicago has refiled the suit, expanding its scope to include not only Glock Inc., but Glock’s Austrian parent company, Glock Ges.m.b.H., and two Chicago-area gun stores.

Everytown Law, which is funded by billionaire Michael Bloomberg, is litigating the suit on Chicago’s behalf. Given the propaganda surrounding both suits, Everytown is the driving force behind it all, with Chicago being the willing vessel.

The new suit has likewise been filed in the Cook County Circuit Court, where Chicago is much more likely to find a friendly judge. I’m no lawyer, but I wonder whether Everytown added the local gun stores to insulate against the matter being moved again. Sounds like something they would do.

Targeting Local Businesses

Everytown are masters of anti-gun propaganda. That propaganda includes demonizing two local gun stores, Eagle Sports Range in Oak Forest, and Midwest Sporting Goods in Lyons, because they sell Glock firearms. Perfectly legal Glock firearms. But Everytown has never let legality or Constitutionality hinder their cause.

Everytown’s latest press release says the businesses are being sued “for their role in endangering Chicagoans by manufacturing, selling, and/or marketing easily modified Glocks to Chicago consumers.” Did you get that? Everytown is suing these stores for selling customers the products they want to buy. You know, just like every other successful business in the world.

Both stores are accused of supplying “crime guns” to Chicago’s gangs. Except that can’t be true, since we have background checks, and all the extra stuff Illinois lays on the table that supposedly “save lives.” Does this mean those measures don’t work? Color me shocked. The suit deliberately glosses over the fact that Chicago refuses to control its crime problem by going soft on criminals, including those who use these alleged “crime guns.” It also omits the fact that most of these guns are stolen, and those that aren’t change hands several times before ending up on the street. But to hear Everytown tell it, these stores are selling them to gangbangers right over the counter.

Chicago and Everytown say that “both gun stores know that Glock pistols are easily and frequently modified into illegal machine guns and yet continue to market and sell Glock pistols into Chicago. Midwest Sporting Goods also deceptively markets Glocks as safe but stays silent on auto sears.” Uh, do you think they do that because Glocks are safe and only criminals equip them with auto sears.? Just wondering. Everytown does note that Eagle Sports Range advertises a full-auto Glock on their social media and offers customers the chance to shoot it on their range. Probably not the greatest idea on their part, but it’s not illegal or the ATF would have already paid them a visit.

Note that neither store is actually in Chicago. In fact, there isn’t a single gun store in Chicago, thanks to the city’s draconian laws. Sounds like those laws are working just great. So, now they’ve decided to go after stores outside their jurisdiction. Just like they’ve blamed Indiana for their problems for years.

Can Chicago Do This?

It seems, once again, that we will find out whether a company can be sued because criminals illegally alter their legally manufactured and marketed product. Common sense says they can’t, but since when have gun controllers made sense? I have long believed that this suit is meant to cost Glock millions of dollars in legal fees since the company can’t afford to not defend itself.

Everytown, of course, is bankrolled by Bloomberg’s billions, so they can do stuff like this. In fact, bankrupting gun manufacturers is the new gun control tactic since they can’t get the legislation they want. It’s underhanded and insidious, but Everytown has shown itself to be that and more since Bloomberg founded the organization.

This is a serious business. If Glock loses, every anti-gun city and state will line up to do the same thing. Those 13 AGs are likely watching very closely. And Glock won’t be the only defendant. They’ll merely be the first.

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