Glock pistols are popular among criminals because they’re easily modified, report says
BALTIMORE– Glock pistols are a popular choice for people who commit gun crimes, in part because they can easily be converted into fully automatic weapons with a small device, according to a new report based on data from nearly three dozen U.S. cities.
Called often Glock switches or automatic searsthe devices have received more attention in recent years as they increasingly appear at crime scenes. They effectively turn semi-automatic weapons, which fire one bullet per trigger pull, into machine guns that can spray continuous gunfire.
Authorities believe the shooters who killed four people and injured 17 others in Birmingham, ALused conversion equipment last weekend to make their weapons more powerful. About 100 shell casings were recovered from the scene.
According to a report from the anti-violence organization Everytown for Gun Safety, criminals often choose Glocks because they are relatively cheap and easy to operate and adjust. But the brand is perhaps best known for its popularity among law enforcement officers, who carry Glock pistols almost exclusively.
The report was released this week ahead of a conference Thursday in Baltimore organized by Mayors Against Illegal Guns, a group under the Everytown umbrella. The organization called on Glock and other gun manufacturers to take responsibility for their products and do more to prevent violence.
“We need to build that level of accountability for them as well,” Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said in an interview. “At some point, the sanctity of Americans’ lives as a country must outweigh the sanctity of American weapons.”
A Glock spokesperson did not respond to an email seeking comment.
Scott and other mayors said that while local elected officials are often at the forefront of pushing for better gun policies, Congress must also step in and address the issue.
Researchers found that four gun manufacturers were responsible for more than 40% of the recovered guns they studied, with Glock alone accounting for 18%. The team collected data from 34 US cities on guns recovered from crime scenes in 2023.
“They’re actually profiting from pain,” says John Feinblatt, president of Everytown. “They prioritize profit over safety.”
Meanwhile, the prevalence of machine gun conversion devices has increased dramatically: 570% between 2017 and 2021, according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The devices are prohibited by federal law. Most are small pieces of metal or plastic made with a 3D printer or ordered online.
The report also shows that the number of recoveries of Polymer80 ghost guns – untraceable, unassembled firearms that can be purchased online – has increased by almost 1,200% in the past five years in 28 cities. According to the report, these numbers have begun to decline after the implementation of a new federal rule and a wave of state legislation banning the guns. Polymer80, once a leading U.S. manufacturer of ghost guns, also shut down operations last month after a flurry of lawsuits.
The city of Baltimore was among those who filed charges. City officials announced a settlement agreement in February after the Nevada-based company agreed to sell its products to Maryland residents.
The city’s lawsuit accused Polymer80 of intentionally subverting federal and state firearms laws by designing, manufacturing and supplying gun mounting kits without serial numbers to buyers who do not undergo background checks. It was filed on the same day that Maryland’s ban on ghost guns went into effect in 2022 following a change in the law that expanded the definition of a firearm to include “an unfinished frame or receiver.”
A year later, the number of ghost guns found in Baltimore had dropped by 25%, according to the report.
Gun violence has also decreased significantly in the city over the past two years positive trend that experts and civil servants attribute to a wide range range of factorsincluding comprehensive anti-violence programs and ongoing police reforms. Violence does a downward trend nationally and after a sharp spike during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The report suggests several actions manufacturers could take to keep their firearms out of the hands of criminals, including increasing oversight of the gun dealers they work with. Manufacturers could also focus on producing safer guns that are not easily modified and fund advertising campaigns to increase public awareness about gun safety.
“I think common sense can get through to people. I think wanting to save the lives of our children can get through to people,” said Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas. “Manufacturers could do things tomorrow that will make guns safer and save lives.”