By Dave Workman
The City of Seattle has filed a lawsuit against Glock, Inc., and three firearms retailers who are Glock “Authorized dealers,” alleging that the firearms manufacturer markets and sells semiautomatic pistols “that can readily be switched into automatic weapons by Washington civilians.”
The device at the center of this lawsuit, which was filed in King County Superior Court, is known as the “Glock switch.” It’s an after-market device—not manufactured by Glock—banned in several states, including Washington, which is illegally installed by unknown third parties.
Named as defendants in addition to Glock are Pantel Tactical, a retailer located in the neighboring city of Renton; Bulls Eye Indoor Range in Tacoma, and Rainier Arms in the city of Auburn. All three are limited liability corporations.
The lawsuit was filed by Seattle City Attorney Ann Davison and it closely mirrors other lawsuits filed against Glock by Baltimore, Chicago, New Jersey and others. The lawsuits all claim Glock can change its pistol design to prevent the use of “Glock switches,” which are used to essentially convert the semi-auto pistol to fire full-auto. It can empty a full magazine in 1 or 2 seconds.
The 61-page lawsuit was filed Tuesday, by Davison and the Seattle law firm Keller Rohrback.
In a prepared statement, Davison’s office alleges that Glock “knowingly manufactures, markets, and sells semi-automatic handguns that can be converted into illegal machine guns with a device known as a ‘Glock switch.’” Davison contends Glock’s “manufacturing technique allows a Glock switch user to easily convert a Glock handgun into an illegal machine gun.”
“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 said. “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.”
Among the lawsuit’s allegations are that “Between 2017 and 2021, Glock 9mm pistols were the most frequently recovered crime gun in Washington. Glock manufactured 31% of the 7,372 crime guns recovered in the state during this period.”
The lawsuit further asserts, “ATF reports that the top two most frequently recovered crime guns between 2017 and 2021 in the City were made by Glock. Glock manufactured 40% of the 1,112 crime guns recovered in the City during this period.”
The complaint claims Seattle police have recovered converted Glocks during criminal investigations which were sold by the three retailers named as defendants in the lawsuit.
The lawsuit alleges “Some overseas Glock switch manufacturers sell their products directly to U.S. consumers through foreign companies like Alibaba (a China-based retailer); other manufacturers do so through U.S. companies. In January 2019, law enforcement recovered five Glock switches from the home of an individual who bought them on Wish.com, a U.S.-based retailer, for $10 each.
“Recently,” the lawsuit continues, “federal authorities seized over 350 internet domains that were used to import and sell auto sears, including Glock switches. Despite ATF efforts, Glock switches are still readily available for purchase online.
“As of August 29, 2025, Glock switches can also be purchased from vitowhisper.com. The website includes step-by-step instructions for installation.”
KING News in Seattle—the local NBC affiliate—quoted Joshua Pantel, owner at Pantel Tactical, who “dismissed the lawsuit as ‘virtue signaling’ and ‘a waste of time.’”
In her statement, Davison said, “Unlike its competitors, who choose to use different, safer standards, Glock chooses to prioritize profits over public safety. 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.”
Not mentioned by Davison is the fact that Glock pistols are carried by Seattle police, King County Sheriff’s deputies and law enforcement officers in communities all over Washington state.
