On December 12, the Attorney General of New Jersey made a major attack on the Second Amendment and law-abiding gun owners when he announced a joint lawsuit against firearms manufacturer, Glock, alleging wrongdoing by design, and citing the criminal conversion of Glock pistols to “machine guns.” The lawsuit framework is akin to blaming car manufacturers for drivers who speed over the limit.
In a midday press conference, AG Matthew Platkin announced the lawsuit as part of a multi-state coalition that includes:
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Hawaii
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
The lawsuit, known as Platkin v. Glock, is a direct attack on New Jersey gun owners, as it seeks to disarm law-abiding citizens. The complaint, “demands that Glock suspend sales of the switchable guns to the civilian market through Glock’s network of New Jersey dealers,” effectively creating a gun ban and punishing law-abiding gun owners.
As with most anti-gun, unconstitutional maneuvers of this sort, it was launched under the guise of “promoting public safety” and using the much-cited but erroneous argument that gun violence is a “public health” crisis. “We need to use every tool at our disposal to end the gun violence epidemic,” said Matthew Platkin. Yet none of his stated solutions include more vigorous enforcement against the criminals who illegally wield the guns.
“I am suing Glock for knowingly manufacturing and selling handguns that can easily be converted into ‘machine guns,'” said Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison. He is referring to the illegal fitment of an aftermarket part called a “switch” that allows a higher rate of fire than the semi-automatic pistol typically has.
The Glock handgun design as sold to civilians is perfectly legal. Glock neither sells nor manufactures the so-called “switches.” Retrofitting such a switch is already illegal. The Glock “safe action pistol” design is decades old, and the patent is expired.
In both the press release and his live statement on YouTube, Platkin references crimes committed with firearms but not once mentions holding the criminals accountable, instead attempting to switch the burden to the manufacturer, a clear attack on the Second Amendment. The complaint characterizes Glocks as, “…a handheld machine gun configuration that wreaks havoc throughout New Jersey.” In the same breath, Platkin cited the lowest number of shootings in the state since 2012.
Platkin’s press conference was filled with bombastic language, erroneous terms, and false statements, including the assertion that “the single most likely cause of death for children is a gun.” In a rich bit of irony, the 69-page complaint acts as a virtual how-to guide complete with step-by-step instructions, schematics, pictures and explanations of how a switch works and how to install one on a Glock.
The complaint has been filed in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Chancery Division, Essex County.
