UPDATE: Maryland Slapped With Lawsuit Over Glock Ban
The state of Maryland is facing a federal lawsuit after Gov. Wes Moore signed the Glock Ban into law, prompting gun rights groups to challenge it.
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Maryland's Glock ban may not make it far if gun rights groups have anything to say about it.
After Gov. Wes Moore signed the bill targeting Glocks and Glock clones, 2A groups immediately filed a federal lawsuit attacking the ban.
Under the legislation, any pistol with the capability of being "machine gun convertible” is prohibited from manufacture, sell, purchase, or transfer in the state starting October 1, 2027.
Though the law doesn't call out specific brands in its prohibition, convertible handguns are listed as those with a “cruciform trigger bar” or pistols with a “sear incorporated into a cross-shaped surface." That means Glocks and Glock-type clones are on the chopping block.
The National Rifle Association, Firearms Policy Coalition, and Second Amendment Foundation filed a joint suit in federal court challenging the law under District of Columbia v. Heller.
"Maryland's politicians just declared war on an entire class of constitutionally protected handguns and the peaceable people who want to own them, " FPC President Brandon Combs said in a statement. "This ban is immoral, unconstitutional, and tyrannical. FPC and our Grassroots Army are going to force Maryland to respect the Second Amendment, full stop.”
The legislation comes after SB 334/HB 0577 cleared both the Maryland House & Senate. The combo bills aimed to cap the use of auto sears — also known as Glock switches. These conversion kits, which are already illegal, allow for certain semi-auto handguns to fire multiple shots with a single pull of the trigger.
"This law is focused on public safety and gives Maryland State Police a clear process to identify firearms that can be readily converted into fully automatic weapons, while maintaining commonsense exceptions for law enforcement and other lawful uses," the Governor's Office shared in a statement with local news. The Governor will always defend Maryland's right to pass laws that keep our communities safe."
Despite pushback from gun owners, advocates for the bill say the legislation will keep residents safe.
“By passing this legislation, Maryland is taking an innovative step to stop the sale of ‘convertible’ pistols that are easily transformed into weapons of war. This bill focuses on prevention by stopping these convertible weapons at the source before they can devastate our communities. We applaud the House for prioritizing the safety of Maryland families over the profits of negligent manufacturers,” Monisha Henley, senior Vice President for Government Affairs at Everytown for Gun Safety, an advocacy group, said in a statement.
A similar ban on Glocks and clones has already passed in California and in Connecticut, but those were also quickly met with backlash.
Maryland’s bill faced harsh criticisms from its own legislators, who pointed to the fact that Glock switches are already illegal.
“The Glock is the most popular handgun in our state. It's the most popular tool that people use for self defense in our state. And the fact of the matter is that this legislation goes after the law-abiding citizens only,” House Republican Whip Jesse Pippy (R-Frederick County) said.
NRA v. Moore was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland and asks for a permanent injunction ahead of the Oct. 1 ban date.
Pew Pew Tactical is following this situation and will keep you updated!
What do you think of a Glock ban? Let us know in the comments below. In need of a Glock now? Check out our article on the Best Glock Models.
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