DECEMBER 17, 2024

NSSF Denounces Coordinated State Effort to Bring ‘Lawfare’ Against Firearm Manufacturer

NSSF®, The Firearm Industry Trade Association, denounces the coordinated “lawfare” effort by Democratic state attorneys general to abuse the judicial system through frivolous claims against a firearm manufacturer. New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin, joined by Minnesota’s Attorney General Keith Ellison along with 13 other states and the District of Columbia, are coordinating and repeating the unfounded claims against GLOCK, Inc., filed by the City of Chicago, which wrongfully colluded with the Biden-Harris White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention and the gun control group Everytown for Gun Safety. That improper collusion is currently under investigation by the U.S. House of Representatives Oversight and Government Accountability Committee.

“This is clearly an abuse of the courts to attempt to circumvent the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA),” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel. “Attorneys General Platkin and Ellison, along with the other colluding states, are attempting to extend the frivolous claims that have no foundation in law and abuse taxpayer dollars to advance an unconstitutional gun control agenda. These claims are a devious manipulation of the courts by attempting to force a gun control agenda through judicial fiat and are contrary to the will of lawmakers and are expressly prohibited by federal law. This is the very definition of ‘lawfare’ and should be rejected by the courts.”

NSSF previously applauded the House Oversight and Government Accountability Committee for investigating allegations that The White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention collaborated with the antigun billionaire Michael Bloomberg’s Everytown for Gun Safety and the City of Chicago to target GLOCK, Inc., with a frivolous lawsuit, alleging the company is responsible for the criminal misuse of firearms when criminals unlawfully attach an illegal “switch” to handguns. Everytown for Gun Safety is representing the City of Chicago in the lawsuit. In previous demands for information, House Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) noted, “On the very day the suit was filed, Everytown for Gun Safety President John Feinblatt posted on X, ‘Federal officials recently contacted Glock to discuss implementing new ways to modify Glock pistols to make it harder for Glock switches to be installed. Rather than help, Glock falsely insisted there is nothing they can do.’”

The devices are “autosears,” which are illegal to make, import, possess and attach to a firearm or use without compliance with the 1934 National Firearms Act (NFA). Attorneys General Platkin and Ellison and the other colluding states ignore the fact that these devices aren’t produced by GLOCK, Inc., or any other firearm manufacturer. In fact, they are largely illegally imported from China or illegally manufactured by criminals. GLOCK, Inc., has actively cooperated with federal, state and local law enforcement to combat this illegal activity.

For more information, visit nssf.org.